I’m surrounded by so many family members, friends, and teachers who support me. It’s given me the freedom to explore and try all kinds of life experiences that may not happen for everyone in their lifetimes. That’s probably why so many people ask me about what I want to do when I grow up. I usually just say that I know I want to go to college.
I don’t think I’m ready to commit to a specific career, but I’m starting to get an idea of what I really enjoy and what can make an impact in this world. I know I want to keep using design for good. I got to meet members of MIT’s Little Devices Lab, and I’ve learned how tinkering with small things can create big changes in the medical industry. The lab is creating makerspaces in hospitals for nurses and doctors to create solutions to tiny problems. They also invent low-tech tools to help people in third-world countries. I’ve even seen simple ideas that can help save thousands and thousands of dollars in hospitals.
I had a chance to meet designers of products and clothing. I have learned that thinking about disability or “inclusive design” isn’t always a part of the design process. Many industries are just starting to change that. I would love to use my input for good in so many different parts of design.
I love the chance to help teach other kids and adults about design. In the last couple of years, I got to speak to adults at a lot of events to help them learn how to let kids lead their own design ideas. I want kids with disabilities to have a say in the products they need and the ones that would just make their lives more fun. I don’t think there’s a degree in college that is about changing perspectives, but maybe I can create one! What I know is that we are all different, and our differences can help us all make a better world with design or whatever topic or issue that excites us.
I keep mentioning all the talks I’m giving to adults. Why do I have to just talk to adults? I want to share some of my lessons with YOU. Maybe it can help change the way you think about disability, or just about the power we all have as kids. I know a lot of you have great ideas, and you shouldn’t be afraid to act on them!
If you have a good idea, don’t bury it. See if you have an adult in your life who can help you take that idea and make it bigger. If that isn’t possible, write down your idea, draw it, or do whatever you can not to forget. And do your best to make that idea come true. Maybe it’s just talking about it to your friends. And when you get more comfortable, share it with other people you know—maybe a teacher you trust. If you think you can make a difference, you can! I have the chance to talk to adults, and I keep telling them to listen to kids! We have really great ideas.
Thinking up ideas and creating things takes time. You have to give yourself a little time each week to step away from technology and draw or write down thoughts.
Keep working and don’t give up. If you believe in your ideas, you will find a solution. Some of my best prototypes came out of previous models that weren’t working right, and it gave us the tools to learn what wasn’t working. If you create something without failure, you probably need to keep working on it to make it better.
I have my moments of doubt. Don’t we all? But I think having moments of failure helps remind me to move past that doubt. I know I can keep going. How can I learn anything without making mistakes? Give yourself a break and keep learning. Growing ideas takes time. I don’t know if I will ever be totally happy with the Project Unicorn design. Sam and I have worked on it for more than two years! Your best idea may not happen immediately. It may not even happen while you’re a kid. If you are confident in solving a problem, just keep trying.
My life experiences have combined into a magical adventure. All the glitter and excitement came from believing in myself and having an amazing group of people in my life who believe in me too.
What’s next? I am going to keep speaking about disabilities and design. I hope my work will make sure more businesses think about inclusive design and bring in people with disabilities to share their thoughts and ideas. I hope more kids with disabilities can get a chance to learn how to talk about their design needs and make those ideas come to life. I am not the only person with a disability trying to change what typical people understand when they see someone with a different body or different abilities. One day, I would like to see a person judged for his or her knowledge and not from a snap decision just because that person has a different-looking body.
It is going to take all of us to learn more about disabilities. It is going to take all of us to get to know and talk to people who don’t look like us. My mom and I made a pact that we would work together to help as many people who are different as we can. That’s why we are working so hard to grow Born Just Right as a nonprofit. We can all find our own ways to respect disabilities. Many times, it just starts with a conversation, maybe even a hello when you pass by someone who has a physical difference.
When I was little, my parents would read all kinds of picture books that talk about our differences. Books where one kid has red hair, one kid has glasses, one kid uses crutches . . . We are all different. Instead of feeling scared when you are with someone who doesn’t look or act like you, give that person a chance. Learn from them!
I think we can all learn a lot more when we talk to one another about our differences. That’s when we learn new things, and maybe that will help us all create more great and fun ideas. If not, at least we will all understand one another more! At the end of the day, we are all born just right.