07/13/2022
Carson Pickett has made history as the first soccer player with a limb difference to play for the US Women's National Team! The 28-year-old defender helped the USWNT to a 2-0 victory in a recent friendly match against Colombia. Carson, who was born without the lower half of her left arm, has played for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League since 2021 and had previously played for Orlando Pride and Seattle Reign FC. In 2021, she was a finalist for Defender of the Year and her exceptional performance was rewarded with a call up to the national team for its final match before World Cup qualifying begins.
Carson, who is pictured here with a young fan, says that she hopes that her example will raise awareness and acceptance of people with limb differences. "While I know that I am confident and comfortable with showing my arm, I know there are so many people in the world who aren't. The feeling of being different and the anxiety of not fitting in is something that I have been through. Wearing sweatshirts in the dead heat of summer to hide my are," she wrote recently on social media. "I hope to encourage anyone who struggles with their limb difference to not be ashamed of who they are."
Congratulations to Carson on her first USWNT game and thank you for spreading awareness about limb differences!
For an excellent middle grade novel about a girl who thrives despite her "lack of armage," we highly recommend "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" for ages 9 to 13 (https://www.amightygirl.com/insignificant-events-in-the-life-of-a-cactus) and its sequel, "Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus" (https://www.amightygirl.com/momentous-events-in-the-life-of-a-cactus)
This beloved novel has also been adapted into a new chapter book series starring Aven, an armless Mighty Girl who loves solving mysteries, which begins with "Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine" for ages 6 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/aven-green-sleuthing-machine
For an inspiring memoir by Jordan Reeves, a Mighty Girl growing up with a limb difference, we recommend "Born Just Right" for ages 8 to 11 at https://www.amightygirl.com/born-just-right
There are also several fantastic books about Mighty Girls who pursue their dreams after leg amputations: "Rescue and Jessica" for ages 5 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/rescue-and-jessica), “The Running Dream” for ages 12 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-running-dream), and “A Time To Dance” for ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/a-time-to-dance)
For more books that encourage understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities of all varieties, visit our blog post "Many Ways To Be Mighty: 25 Books Starring Mighty Girls with Disabilities" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12992
Photo credit: Becky Burleigh
