Limb Difference

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Mother’s Day Letter to my Mom

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I wrote this letter to express empathy for all my mother went through raising a child with a hand difference — and to thank her for all the support and love she gave me over the years.

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Letter from a Parent to their Child with a Limb Difference

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Overhearing a parent talking to their child with a limb difference inspired me to think about what I would have liked to have heard as a child. Here it is in letter format.

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Fortune Teller with Reflection Questions for Children with Upper Limb Differences

“How to think like an OT”

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Children with upper limb differences often learn from people with two hands—and that means adapting every new activity. It’s easy to miss how hard their bodies are working. Let’s help them become body sleuths and learn to tune into their own needs.

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Seeing the whole child with a limb difference: celebrating strengths & supporting struggles

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We in the limb difference community are blessed to see so many social media posts about all of the everyday and amazing feats that children and adults are doing. These posts can help both the limb different and limb typical communities challenge ableist attitudes. But there’s more to the story. Championing our beautiful children means more than celebrating their strengths and successes. Let’s dive into what sometimes doesn’t get talked about: the frustrations and difficulties that children and adults with limb differences experience.

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Limb different toys matter – here’s why

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Limb different toys are fabulous for all children for so many reasons! There now are so many incredible options available at the click of a button

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When physical issues cause SADNESS for your child

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We delve into potential areas of distress related to physical issues that may underlie your child’s sadness about their upper limb difference

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When social-emotional issues cause SADNESS for your child

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We delve into potential areas of social-emotional distress that may underlie your child’s sadness about their upper limb difference

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What to say & do when your child feels SAD about their limb difference

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In this blog, we apply Jancee Dunn’s genius empathetic parenting strategy of asking your child when they’re sad about their limb difference: “Do you want to be hugged, heard, or helped?” (NYTimes column 4/23)

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Lucky Fin Project Weekend – July 26-28, 2024

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A highlight of Lucky Fin Project Weekend 2024 was talking to almost 100 parents about the prevalence of overuse syndrome in upper limb different (ULD) adults and demonstrating strategies to parents to lessen the risk for our beautiful children as they grow. But whatever I contributed to the weekend, I received so much more back as I connected with families and met beautiful, creative, and energetic little ones!

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Upper Limb Difference Day – June 15, 2024

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I was thrilled to participate in the 3rd annual Upper Limb Difference Day as a panelist. The event, a collaboration between Beautifully Made Community and the Orthopedic Department at Boston Childrens Hospital, took place at Lookout Farm in Natick, Massachusetts on a gorgeous afternoon! Speaking as a panelist about technology adaptations and overuse syndrome awareness…

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