FAMOUS PERSON: JIM ABBOTT By: Alyssa Burnett

WHAT IS HE FAMOUS FOR?  Former Major League Baseball pitcher  Made his debut in the MLB with the California Angels (1989) and made his last appearance with the Milwaukee Brewers (1999)  Also played for New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox  Attended the University of Michigan and while he was there, he received the James E. Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete of the year (1987)  Won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics of 1988  Was a first round draft pick into the MLB and in less than a year he made it to the Majors  Also appeared on an episode of Boy Meets World

WHAT DISABILITY DOES HE HAVE?  He was born with a deformed right arm which was without a right hand  His right arm ends about where his wrist should be. He doesn't have a right hand, just a loose flap of skin at the end of his underdeveloped arm.  When he began school, he was fitted with a mechanical hand made of fiberglass and metal.  He hated the prosthesis, which he called a "hook," because it frightened some of his classmates and made him self-conscious.  He stopped wearing it and decided to embrace what God gave him.  "The bible tells us to be grateful in every situation. I am grateful for mine.“ –Jim Abbott

IN THE WORDS OF JIM ABBOTT…  "If you keep harping on a disability, then you'll start believing there is one. So I don't" - He didn’t think of his disability as a problem, but as a reason to push harder to reach his goal in life  "I was never inspired by people like me. I didn't grow up thinking about not having a right hand. I just strove to be normal"

HOW DID THIS DISABILITY AFFECT JIM ABBOTT'S YOUNGER YEARS?  He was very discouraged as a child. He didn’t want to go to school because he knew he was different.  Baseball is what made him a confident person  He has shown kids with similar disabilities to act as if it was always there, to hold back their emotions towards their problem.  "Anyone who has a continuous smile on his face conceals a toughness that is almost frightening.“ – Former coach of Abbott

HOW DOES THIS DISABILITY AFFECT JIM ABBOTT IN HIS PRESENT, EVERYDAY LIFE?  Jim Abbott doesn’t give his disability the chance to affect him in any other way, but positively.  More recently, Abbott has joined forces with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS), in their groundbreaking initiative to promote the employment of people with disabilities.  Also the spokesman for the "Ability Transcends Challenges" program

HOW HAS JIM ABBOTT OVERCOME HIS DISABILITY?  “There are millions of people out there ignoring disabilities and accomplishing incredible feats. I learned you can learn to do things differently, but do them just as well.” –Jim Abbott  Abbott has overcome all of the odds to become a Major League Baseball player.  Figured out his own way to play with one hand  Most teams would try to exploit his fielding disadvantages, but their tactics were never effective due to how well Abbott has perfected the art of playing with one hand.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS  Apart of the A.D.A.P.T. movement, which is dedicated to help anyone with disabilities overcome adversity  A.D.A.P.T stands for Adjustability, Determination, Accountability, Perseverance, Trust  In this inspirational speech, Abbott teaches that, in order to move toward our goals, we must be willing to adapt: to change and mold ourselves in order to meet the obstacles in our own way.  Audiences will walk away inspired, motivated, and ready to ADAPT to any challenge that stands in their way.

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