Posted on 12/02/2023 9:10:25 AM PST by Squawk 8888
Gavi Engel-Yan says she wants the world to know her as a “badass woman.”
The 13-year-old is well on her way to earning that title.
In the fast and furious world of Volt hockey – a power-cart version of our national game made for kids with disabilities – Gavi is a) the first Canadian girl player and b) the fiercest competitor on the floor.
In Sweden in September, she helped her Variety Village squad win bronze for Canada at the World Cup of Volt Hockey.
Daily life for Gavi is also a triumph (though she does not want you to see it that way). She has nemaline myopathy, a rare muscular disorder. She’s in a power wheelchair, breathes with a trach and often talks by keyboard or caption.
(Excerpt) Read more at torontosun.com ...
These are very interesting times we are living in.
Correct.
Is she related to Garp?
You’ve talked about inspiration porn. What is that?
“It’s what makes non-disabled people think people with disabilities are inspirational just for doing normal stuff – like going to school, having friends, being smart. It teaches non-disabled people to feel sorry for us.”
We hear a lot these days about ableism? How do you define it?
“For me, ableism is stereotypes and assumptions about disabled people packed into one word. Ableism makes having a disability much harder than it already is. I have to deal with stares (stairs, too) when I’m out in public, mean and negative comments about my disability, inaccessibility in many ways. If there was no ableism in the world, my life would be so much nicer. I wish that one day our world will reach that goal.”
There you have it. While never being able to overcome the REAL disability of being Canadian she'll overcome the comparatively lesser ones of physical limitations.
Kidding, of course - Canada's a good neighbor. Baby baby, my heart will go on while takin' care of business. Every day.
Good for her.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.