Debra Keenahan, born with dwarfism, is an artist and academic. However, one of her greatest accomplishments is being a mother to her eighteen-year-old daughter. She was recently interviewed on the Today Show.
Debra was told that her chances of becoming pregnant were ‘slim to none’. She shares her reality on parenting with a disability. She says, “Parenting with a disability actually impacts everybody because as a parent you’re responsible for how your child responds to everybody so getting your child to support difference is the most important thing.”
“I think as a parent I helped Sarah with compassion, understanding, patience and drive.”
Debra believes she has taught her daughter to view everyone as equal. In fact, Sarah did not realize she and her mother were considered different until she was eight years old. Debra recalls a time where the mother and daughter were passing a group of teenagers who made rude comments. Debra admits, “(In that moment, Sarah) realised we were different, significantly different and we’re going to remain that way.”
“My dwarfism does not disable me. What disables me is people’s attitudes to the dwarfism.”
Debra works to challenge stereotypes and uses the personal and social impacts of disability as a focus in her art.