About the Name & Logo
About the Name
The name On the Other Hand comes from a line by comedian Steven Wright:
“On the other hand … you have different fingers.”
When I first heard it, my response was immediate:
“On the other hand … I have a thumb!”
That moment captured something I have lived my entire life: how language, perspective, and assumptions shape the way difference is understood. On the Other Hand reflects the idea that there is always another way to look at bodies, experiences, and stories, especially when they do not follow a typical path.
About the Logo
One inspiration for the heart-within-a-hand logo comes from Psalm 24:3–5, which speaks about clean hands and a pure heart, conveying the idea that we are called to stand, serve, and bless others with integrity, intention, and care for others. This passage has long represented for me the responsibility of using what we are given in service of others: our bodies, our experiences, and our skills. While I do not claim to know why I was born with a hand difference, I do believe that it is a privilege to use my lived experience and professional training to support children and families navigating similar paths.
The logo is also inspired by the chamsa (or hamsa), a hand-shaped symbol used across Middle Eastern cultures. The chamsa is often associated with protection, healing, and care, and is sometimes depicted with a heart or other symbolic elements.
The Original Hand-and-Heart Image
My logo also has a very personal origin.
After an appointment with a hand physician whose comments reflected a lack of empathy and understanding about limb difference, I went home and did what occupational therapists often do: I made something. Using craft foam, I cut four fingers off a pre-made foam hand and glued a heart into the center of the palm. I added fingernails to the intact hand and glued both foam hands onto my work bag.
For years afterward, when pediatric clients asked what “happened” to my hand, I used those foam hands to explain, rather than my own body. Children would then create their own foam hands, and we would have thoughtful, joyful conversations about differences, bodies, and belonging.
I encourage parents to try this simple art project with their children. FunFoam is inexpensive and widely available, and children love creating their own hands. It can open the door to conversations that are playful, empowering, and grounded in acceptance.