Born with no arms, Jessica Cox is the world’s first licensed armless pilot. She cut out the word ‘I can’t’ from her dictionary so long ago that she never allowed this disability to be a limiting factor. Even though she suffered self-esteem issues in the earlier stages of her life, she overcame every issue, and today she shines like a bright star of hope for every disabled being.
Her achievements are so many, ranging from a college degree in Psychology to a Black belt in Taekwondo at 14. She can drive a car with her feet, type with her toes, and became the first licensed armless pilot in 2008.
Jessica Cox was born in 1983 in Arizona and always dreamt about being a superwoman who flies through the sky and helps other people. She fulfilled her childhood dream by flying planes and being a mentor for many disabled children like her. She saw Barbie Guerra on a TV program, who born without arms just like her. Barbie Guerra became her role model and mentor. Barbie mentored Jessica to follow her way of living life and desire like her and not to give up.
In her childhood days, she got trained in dancing and danced in the front rows due to the support she got from her parents and teachers, which earned applause from the audience. That encouragement has helped her continue with dancing for the last 14 years.
In 2012, she married Patrick, her former Taekwondo instructor (she has two black belts). They live in Tucson in the US state of Arizona.
Although she doesn’t have an interest in politics, she went to that sphere as a disability advocate working with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, including those who became disabled due to injuries. Lobbying senators in Washington DC for the ratification of a major disability treaty. Jessica Cox is working with Handicap International USA and many other organizations to support the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities — the CRPD.
Emmy award-winning filmmaker Nick Spark made a documentary about Jessica Cox named ‘Right footed,’ which chronicles Jessica’s life story. This documentary is about the power of human will and examines how much one individual’s life can affect people on a deeper level. It is a story about perseverance, about how a girl converted the disasters in her life to success. This documentary shows how a person’s determination can change her own life and that of others.
Jessica now works as a motivational speaker. She travels the world sharing her story and encouraging people to be creative and innovative. She delivered speeches in almost 20 countries. She wrote a book, ‘Disarm Your Limits’ consisting of all her success mantras. She is also known for armless surfing and armless scuba diving.
Oblivion is an inevitable truth, but Jessica Cox made sure that her name will last forever as long as the human race exists.
She touched a lot of lives with her speeches, actions, and life.
She became the role model and mentored so many people.
She saved a lot of lives that could have been left in the darkness of pain and abandonment.
Jessica Cox is a Beacon of hope for all disabled people all over the world.