‘I have always focused on the “ability” part of the word’: During Disability Pride Month, Anne Ballentine shares her personal story of growing up with one arm

07/18/24 12:00:pm

Disability Pride Month is all about education and empowerment, celebrating and honoring the experiences, struggles, and achievements of people with disabilities. Recognized each July, it marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

As part of Disability Pride Month, Anne Ballentine, vice president of Marketing and Communications, shares her story:

Since I was born missing my left forearm, some say I have a disability, and I supposed this is true based on the actual definition: "...any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities." That said, I have always focused on the “ability” part of the word. As a kid, that meant I played the trumpet instead of the flute, used a hook to serve a tennis ball, and waterskied holding the handle at my elbow, or if I wanted to show off- with my toes. More formally known as a terminal device or T.D., my hook was also helpful in holding heavy trays of food as a waitress and doing my cheerleading moves in middle and high school.

I now have a special yoga arm with an attachment that supports poses like plank and down dog, I use the hook to pursue my new pickleball passion, and I rely on a card holder and electric shuffler when playing my favorite games.

I hadn’t heard of Disability Pride Month until recently, and when I reflected on the concept, I suppose I do feel a little pride for how I’ve approached this minor inconvenience, but I am extraordinarily proud of my parents and how they handled raising a child with this “difference.” They always encouraged me to try anything I wanted and helped me through how to answer the understandable curiosity that other kids had. Because they treated my missing arm as no big deal, that’s exactly how I thought of it and do to this day.

I’m also super proud of Audrey, the teenager I’ve mentored since she was a baby when she was born without her right forearm. Early on, I was asked to provide some guidance and inspiration for her family and her, but the truth is, she long ago surpassed me and is now the youngest member of the U.S. national paralympic ski team, competes internationally, and plays softball on her high school team.

If you want some good stories, you can ask me about all the funny things kids and adults alike have said to me over the years. I’m never offended but I have had plenty of good laughs. -Anne Ballentine

**Opportunity to share your story!**

A nonprofit that advocates for disability rights, The Arc, is inviting people with disabilities, physical or mental, to share their stories using #DisabilityPride and #DisabiltyPrideMonth. If you are someone with a disability, you’re invited to answer questions like this: What are you proud of? What do you want people without disabilities to know?

Learn how to participate here, and if you like, you may choose to share your story with Rogers by sending it to Madalyn.ONeill@rogersbh.org and we may reach out to feature you in an upcoming Insight employee newsletter story.