The Many Faces of Freedom

Freedom can mean so many different things to different people. For some, it’s the right to speak, vote, or travel. For others, like me, it’s the ability to live fully and be seen for who you truly are without unnecessary barriers. As we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, I’m reflecting on what freedom really means when you live with a limb difference in a world that is still figuring out how to include everyone.

My mother was my first teacher in understanding freedom. Born on Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, she later returned to the Philippines with her family before the war broke out. Even as a young U.S. citizen, global events would change her life in profound ways. At just 16, she entered into an arranged marriage for her safety, while my father moved to Hawai‘i to build a future. When my mother returned years later, she brought with her resilience, strength, and a deep love for her country. For her, voting wasn’t just a right it was an event. She made sure we understood what freedom truly looked like, especially when you’ve lived without it.

For me, the ADA has been a game-changer. It represents the right to access education, employment, and everyday life without being held back because of a physical difference. I was born with a limb difference, and though I don’t consider it a disability, it has shaped my journey. The ADA has given people like me the opportunity to be seen as capable and worthy. It created the structure that different doesn’t mean less. But there are still moments where I feel singled out, not because I’m incapable, but because I look or move differently. Freedom, to me, is the ability to contribute, to serve, to create, and to be valued for who I am not questioned for how I show up.

This July, while we celebrate the familiar and traditional expressions of freedom, let’s also take a moment to honor the quieter ones, the freedom to exist unapologetically, to heal, to grow, and to help others rise. The ADA opened the door for us. It’s up to all of us to keep walking through it and bring others along for the journey.

What does freedom look like in your life? And how do you help others feel more free in theirs?