M att Stutzm an

The Armless Archer

If w e w ere to explain a person that likes to drive cars, go

to the outdoors, hunting, fi
shing, m arried w ith children,
eats food, drinks fl
u ids, and everything norm al w hat
w ould you think?

That is exactly who Matt Stutzman is a normal guy.

M att Stutzm an:

Born December 10, 1982 without arms. According to
1982 statistics, this only occurred in 1 of every 350,000
births.
Birth parents gave Matt up for adoption due to the
overwhelming idea of raising a child without arms.
Adopted by Leon and Jean Stutzman in late January
1983.
Leon and Jean, Dad and Mom, decided to not change
their home at all to accommodate Matt because he
would need to learn to adapt to the world that is not
accommodating to his disability.

W ho M att Is:
Matt grew up like any other young boy. Playing sports,
doing school work, eating, ride a bike and so on.
Matt love the outdoors. Hunting, fishing and camping.
He has taught himself how to shoot a gun, fish, and how
to shoot a bow and arrow.
With no arms, Matt has had to teach himself how to do
all this with his feet. He even drives a car with his feet.
The left foot pushing the break and gas, while his right
foot will put the car in gear, turn on blinker signals, and
hold on to the stearing wheel.

In a recent study done by Scope (a charity group for

people w ith disabilities), they have found that 67% of
people are uncom fortable interacting w ith people w ith
disabilities
2/3 of the public is uncomfortable of interacting with
those with disabilities. But why?
Most people are afraid they will sound like they are
patronizing or condescending. They dont want to say
the wrong thing or harm the disabled individual.
The most important thing to remember when
communicating with the disabled is that they are people
first. Their disability is not who they are but merely a
part of what they are. They are a person.

H ow to treat them :
This should go without saying, but treat them like a
person.
Ask questions about them, NOT their disability.
Dont apologize for something they cant do. Most have
learned independence during their life and dont need
help for most things anyway.
When you do something nice for them, dont think it is
such a great charitable service rendered. It should be
something you would do for any other friend or stranger
alike.

Fam ily Life:

One of the biggest struggles families face is not for
them, but for how the world will treat the member with
a disability.
Families fear that their loved ones will be treated
differently.
Most families will either adapt to helping the individual
or the individual will adapt to the regular environment
they live in.
The individual with the disability will still have the same
family relationship as others members do.