I was born missing my left arm. In 1986, at 18 months, I was fitted with a prosthetic (义肢) device, a decision made by my parents and doctors so that I would develop “normally”.
I spent my entire childhood and adolescence trying to fit in. I did just about anything to ease the pains of the stares and pointing fingers from my classmates. By the time I was 8, I had no self-confidence, and the hand I was wearing was making it harder for me to fit in. So I decided I was better off without one. I didn’t need anyone to fix me.
To prove that I wasn’t limited by my disability, I developed a love for all sports, in particular swimming. I was selected to my first Australian women’s swimming team at age 13 and successfully represented my country for eight years. I realized I’d made a name for myself because of my disability.
I taught myself how to be comfortable in a society filled with insecurities. So when I was first contacted in 2021 by Covvi, a company trying to create the world’s most advanced bionic (仿生的) hand, I was a bit surprised. They asked me to trial the hand and, if possible, to become a patient advocate. Initially, I said no. Then, curiosity got the better of me.
While I was busy advocating for disability rights, a new generation of leaders, like Amy Purdy and Nick Vujicic, used the power of technology and social media to display wheelchairs or artificial limbs without explanation. People feared disability less. Society was beginning to see a person first, and their disability second.
Viewing disability through a social lens also meant acknowledging that a person is more disabled by their environment and the discrimination of others than by their actual disability. As those conversations shifted, I realized that there was an opportunity to use technology to steer the narrative for future generations. In July 2022, I decided to trial the hand.
The role of patient advocate is an enormous privilege. Through sharing my journey, I’m able to reach thousands of other people who would benefit from its extraordinary capabilities. That’s why I wear a bionic hand—not because I’m broken, but because I have an opportunity to enhance the human capabilities that already exist.
4. The author developed a love for all sports because ________.
A.she was longing for fame | B.sports gave her self-confidence |
C.she wanted to defeat her disability | D.her prosthetic device empowered her |
5. From Purdy and Vujicic, the author learned ________.
A.more people acknowledged their limits |
B.the disabled needed a friendlier environment |
C.social media allowed the disabled opportunities |
D.technology shifted people’s attitudes to disability |
6. Which of the following words can best describe the author?
A.Intelligent and brave. |
B.Warm-hearted and patient. |
C.Responsible and strong-willed. |
D.Independent and innovative. |
7. From the passage, we learn that one should ________.
A.maximize one’s abilities by embracing reality |
B.build one’s social circle with optimism |
C.stick to one’s goal to achieve success |
D.take it easy in difficult situations |