Since childhood, the American Jessica Cox hated the word “disabled”. Being born without arms for it is more an “advantage” than a “disadvantage”, something that led her to become the first pilot without arms of light sport aircraft, and the first licensed in around the globe.
“When flight I am free, independent and under control”, said Cox, of 36 years old and originally from Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Cox was born without arms due to a rare congenital condition. However, this has not been obstacle to perform daily activities such as dressing, eating, writing, make up with their feet.
From small search being independent, despite the prying eyes of the people, who, it says, is customary.
“Some people are surprised to see me, others just want to look at. There are even some who feel rejection, because they are not used to see feet making the functions of the hands”, said the young driver.
“Some believe that feet are dirty because they touch the floor or are in your shoes, there are a range of reactions,” he added.
Unlimited Cox has not used prosthesis since I was 14 years old. It is capable of driving his car, which does not have any special modifications. It also has a license without restrictions and type 25 words per minute on the keyboard.
Following the advice of his father, the young man decided to accept the invitation, which in 2005 made it to fly, despite their fear of airplanes.
Since that first flew in a small aircraft, it ensures that you are “hooked”, so, back to Earth, I knew that the next thing I would do was learn to fly.
After three years of training and several instructors, Cox obtained his pilot’s license, on 10 October 2008, so it is qualified to fly light sport aircraft reaching an altitude of up to 10,000 feet.
Telling your experience with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona, Cox is dedicated to tour USA and the world, sharing her story of personal growth.
Their talks have allowed him to visit 23 different Nations.
“It is important for me to share my story, I think that I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to influence people on a deeper level,” he says.
While breakfast and spread butter over the bread with their feet, says: “being born without arms has been more an advantage than a disadvantage”.
In 2015, the arizonan published the autobiographical book “Disarm Your Limits” (disarm your limits), that recounts the problems he has faced and how it exceeded them.
One of those stumbling blocks was making decision on abandoning the prosthesis.
Ensures that “I hated them” because they were very heavy and also the cause of jokes at school, where they called it, among other epithets, “robot girl” and “Captain Hook”.
The real Jessica when his family moved to Tucson – was about to begin the eighth grade, he decided to be the true “Jessica”. And “true Jessica does not use prosthesis”.
At age 10, Cox began to train taekwondo. At age 14 she obtained her first black belt, becoming the first woman without arms with tape of that color in the American Association of Taekwondo.
With your spouse, Patrick Chamberlain, Cox formed a duo of ambassadors of the Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, adopted by the United Nations in 2006.
“Unfortunately, the United States does not form part of this agreement”, said Cox.
For it is of utmost importance not only that respect people with physical disabilities, but also have better opportunities, especially employment.
“My main message to people who have some type of physical disability is that no matter the obstacles, there is a formula to ‘manage’ them, which includes the desire, courage, innovation and above all the perseverance”, said.
Cox, who in addition to cycling and learn now to walk the tightrope, indicates that his Catholic faith has inspired her to overcome it and try to help other people overcome their own obstacles.
His life, in turn, inspired the documentary “Right Footed” (right foot), directed by Nick Spark in 2015.
“Now I can say that all that I need help is to make me a ponytail in her hair, but I’m working on that,” said Cox, who will soon visit Israel to share their story.
