Tatyana and Deborah McFadden recount Tatyana’s journey from an orphanage in Russia to becoming a Paralympian and working together to pass laws that prevent students with disabilities from being denied equal access to amateur/school sports at all levels. Tatyana was born with spina bifida that paralyzed her from the waist down. At age 6, Deborah—a disabilities rights advocate—adopted Tatyana and brought her to live in the United States. From 2004 to 2016, Tatyana won 17 Paralympic medals.  

Listen: “Yessama, and it means I can do it and I can do it myself.”