The Amputee Coalition of America is extremely disappointed in numerous viewers’ negative reactions to Cerrie Burnell, the new co-host of a popular BBC children’s television program. According to a report on the British news site, MailOnline, parents have complained that Ms. Burnell scares toddlers solely because she was born without the lower portion of her right arm. According to the report, some of the posts on the CBeebies Channel’s Web site were “becoming so vicious that they had to be removed.”

To say that such remarks are outrageous is insufficient. Such outdated attitudes are demeaning and hurtful to people with disabilities and must not be tolerated. The Amputee Coalition extends its support to Ms. Burnell.

Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States are living with limb loss. In addition, approximately 185,000 people in the U.S. have an upper- or lower-limb amputation each year. Do the critics of Ms. Burnell believe that everyone with limb loss or a congenital limb absence – including children who have lost their limbs to lawn mower accidents, people who have had amputations due to cancer, and those who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan missing limbs – are too scary to be seen in public? Would these complaining parents ask their nation’s wounded warriors to hide from public view?

Fortunately, other viewers and disability-rights groups within the United Kingdom are staunchly defending Ms. Burnell. Rather than yielding to intimidating attacks by an intolerant few, the BBC should heed these wiser voices and retain Ms. Burnell’s services.

Such stigmatization of people with limb differences is why the Amputee Coalition developed its Limb Loss Education & Awareness Program for children from preschool through sixth grade. This curriculum is based on the belief that children can learn acceptance of people with differences even at an early age.

It is only through education and awareness that ignorance and intolerance related to people with disabilities can be overcome. The Amputee Coalition of America remains ever dedicated to this goal.

Sincerely,

Kendra Calhoun

President and CEO

Amputee Coalition of America