This is such a brilliant clip, I just had to pull it out of my ‘Things I found interesting’ post. I want to quote it all as well incase Instagram change their embeds or who’s allowed to see them or whatever.

It features Tilly Lockey, a singer, host, presenter, model and amputee, talking about the bionic arm she designed with Open Bionics.

Now we’ve let go of all this silicone, we let go of all the layers, trying to make it look more natural and blend in, now they’re 3D printed, like, look at this, that doesn’t look like you’re average human hand, but I can tell you right now it looks a hell of a lot better than what I was wearing before which was intended to make other people more comfortable. 

All the companies ever need to do was to ask rather than falling into the stereotype and assuming what people want to look like to be normal. All they had to do is ask and that’s the first thing Open Bionics did they said “OK, set everyone down, design me your dream arm right now” 

You know, it’s not only just accepting that difference now but it’s accentuating it in a really beautiful light?

But what stood out even more to me is the mental benefits. Being told your whole life you’re not allowed to look a certain way and then being able to come out here and cover it in glitter. That is a huge difference. 

She’s right. Both about needing to ask people what they want, rather than assuming what others want for or from them. And about how awesome her bionic arm looks.