A new chapter

Representation is a funny thing. When you grow up immersed in media, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when you realise people “like you” aren’t always shown.

And then when you first get shown “you” in a genuine form on a public platform, you realise exactly why it’s so important.

In January 2021, I received an email that simultaneously fulfilled a childhood dream as well as demonstrated the importance of representation.

It was from the head of publishing at Big Picture Press, who wanted to know whether I would be interested in writing a children’s book.

While I was honoured to be asked to publish a book at the age of 24, there was a line in the email which stood out above the rest.

She said: “books in the past… portray humans as futuristic cyborgs which seem way off in the distant future and aren’t relatable”.

When I learned there was nothing that existed like this, I realised the immense opportunity that I had, both for myself and the next generation of children like me.

For as long as I can remember, I have been disabled. I became a triple amputee after contracting sepsis when I was just nine months old. I learned to walk on a prosthetic leg and grew up well aware of what made me different from those around me.

With a strong support network of family and friends, I was raised to become my own person and celebrate my differences for what they were, but I know that many others aren’t as lucky.

When I was growing up, I thought I had two options when it came to living with a disability: I could either ignore it completely or try to become a Paralympian.

I have a penchant for stating the obvious, and a distinct lack of sporting prowess, so neither of these options was ever realistic.

I didn’t know that my disability could be celebrated for what it is: part of me, without defining me. Everything I have ever done or will ever do will be with it, not purely because of it, and especially not in spite of it.

I simply wasn’t aware that I could just exist and be as myself, partly because every depiction I saw of people like me was focused on being so much more.

There wasn’t any accessible media that explained the wonders of the technology I used every day, written for a young person trying to make sense of the world.

Which brings me nicely onto my book. Human 2.0 is a celebration of human bionics and medical engineering throughout history, as well as a glimpse into some of the big decisions we are going to have to make as a species in the future.

It breaks down a history of how all of the major groups of prosthetic and implantable devices were created, how the modern-day equivalents work, and shines a spotlight on the people who are using them.

It has been beautifully illustrated by Sam Rodriguez and has been recorded as an audiobook to ensure as many people as possible are able to interact with it.

And that is where the beauty of this book really comes to life and is the exact reason why we chose the title Human 2.0.

All of this technology is incredible, but it is only worthwhile as long as it is putting the person at the heart of the story.

When I was 13, I became the youngest person in the world to be fitted with a bionic arm. This technology changed my life and allowed me to be truly independent.

On the day it was fitted I learned how to tie up my shoelaces and cut up my own food. This sense of independence was empowering, but the biggest shift happened in other peoples’ perceptions of my disability.

The looks I received in public changed from ones of pity and sympathy to those of intrigue and excitement. Nothing to do with me had changed, but I was treated completely differently because others felt more comfortable.

It is my sincere hope that Human 2.0 acts as a starting point for children and adults alike to better understand disability, authentic representation, technology, and human potential, as well as make everyone a little bit more curious about what surrounds them every day.

It has been such an honour to write the book that I know would have inspired me as a child, and I am excited to see what the future will bring.