Dancing With Adversity

Aimee Mullins was born without shin bones.  She went on to become the first double amputee to compete in Division I track and field.  She set world records in the 1996 Paralympics. Mullins has been a featured speaker at at least a couple of TED Conferences, including one, very enjoyable talk, where she explains the advantages of having 12 pairs of legs.  

Recently, TED posted a video of her most recent, and most compelling talk about the incredible ability of people to adapt and overcome adversity and the debilitating impact of our labeling people “disabled.”  Says Mullin, “the only true disability is a crushed spirit.”

I hope you will take the time to listen to it.

NY Times Interactive Map on Immigration

As part of a new series on immigration, “Remade in America,” the New York Times has published an interactive map that you can use to see how an immigrant group settled across the country. Click here to see the map.

 The Times also has a page where you can explore changes in the make up of students in schools around the country by school district. Click here to see this tool.