Limb Difference
People with one-sided upper limb differences (ULD) experience increased risk of developing overuse syndrome over their lifetimes due to strain on the dominant side. Learn all about overuse syndrome and what parents and practitioners can do to help
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.
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.
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.
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.
We delve into potential areas of distress related to physical issues that may underlie your child’s sadness about their upper limb difference
We delve into potential areas of social-emotional distress that may underlie your child’s sadness about their upper limb difference
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)
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!
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…