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Why Representation Matters

Just as a little girl would be inspired by seeing a female pilot, someone with a disability would be encouraged by seeing a pilot with limb differences in the cockpit.

Eric Gaffney, a United Airlines 737 pilot born missing one hand. [Image provided by: Jessica Cox]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Both the author and Eric Gaffney, a United Airlines pilot, share a journey of initially hiding their limb differences but ultimately embracing them and using their experiences to challenge perceptions and inspire.
  • Eric Gaffney, a 737 pilot born missing one hand, serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved, passionately pursuing his aviation career and advocating for limb difference through his work and a children's book.
  • The article underscores the importance of representation, suggesting that visible role models like Eric Gaffney in unexpected professions inspire individuals with disabilities and normalize differences for wider society.
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For a long time, I avoided drawing attention to not having arms. People’s shocked reaction was always unsettling and a reminder of my difference. It might be hard to believe, but I forget I do not have arms until the response of strangers reminds me that I am someone different. 

That was until a point in my life around the time I was in college when I decided to embrace my difference and have fun with it. One April Fools’ Day, I wore a fake arm made of rubber and asked a stranger to shake my hand. The phony arm would detach while shaking my “hand.” This was one of many practical jokes I played on people in college.

Jessica Cox

Born without arms, Jessica Cox is the first and only licensed armless pilot in aviation history. When she’s not flying a 1946 Ercoupe in Arizona, Jessica trains in Taekwondo, mentors children with limb differences, and travels the world as a keynote speaker.

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