It’s hard enough being a kid trying to fit in. Imagine being a brown kid with one leg growing up in an affluent and very white Connecticut town. Vasu Sojitra was diagnosed with septicemia at the age of nine months which resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. He spent much of his youth finding his way in the world. In fact, His TedX Bozeman Talk is titled “What is Your Normal?”
Now, Vasu is the Adaptive Sports Director for Eagle Mount Bozeman, Coordinator for Earthtone Outsideᴹᵀ, the first adaptive Athlete for The North Face.
Vasu shared with me how he managed and what got him through those years. He shared with us how he started skiing, what skiing did for him and how he figured out how to engineer equipment to get him out in the backcountry. And now, now that skiing and the outdoors has restored his self-confidence and belief he can do anything, he’s advocating for all marginalized identities. He talks to us about how we can all be better, more empathetic and inclusive. All of us, no matter how we identify, can be ignorant of how our words, actions (and lack of both) affect others.
For example, there is one word Vasu said people with disabilities absolutely hate. And you’ll have to listen in to find out what it is.
With that, let’s listen in and gear up for what’s next.
Where to find Vasu:
Resources Mentioned:
- TedX Talk What is Your Normal?
- Earthtone Outside MT on Facebook
- Unlikely Hikers
- Brothers of Climbing
- Brown Girls Climb
- Paradox Sports
- Eagle Mount Bozeman
- Vermont Adaptive
- Catalyst Sports
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