By Shirley N Lew

AsAmNews NY Correspondent



The words “I can’t” are not in Jessica Cox’ vocabulary.

The 32-year-old Cox was born with no arms, but courageously overcame all her obstacles.

She is the first licensed woman pilot with no arms and at the controls with her feet. In fact, she does practically everything with her feet. From putting on her contact lenses, make-up, and dress, to playing the piano and flying an airplane, there simply isn’t anything that she has not been able to do.

“Through flight training, it was such a challenge because I had go through three flight instructors, four different airplanes, three seats, and numerous hours to get to the point of being a certified pilot,” said Cox. “The whole process was a lot longer than I initially thought. Finally getting there, my first solo flight and going through all that made it all the meaningful, “ Cox said of a challenging moment in her life.

When Cox later married Patrick Chamberlin, together they became an inspirational team to the handicapped and disabled. She made numerous personal visits to disabled children around the world, touching lives and spreading the message that they are loved and capable of living a normal life. She has gone around the world speaking on behalf of people with disabilities and advocating for the American with Disabilities Act on Capitol Hill.

The film about her life, Right Footed, closed the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival before a sold out audience.

Cox was asked by the audience on how she handles requests by people.

“You may remember the little girl (in the movie). She was in a wheelchair and she was asking me for stuff that I couldn’t provide,” said Cox. “We were there with a different thing in mind. I realized our presence was more important than anything I could buy and it starts with that, to change attitudes. We weren’t prepared to be asked for all these things that they wanted. It was very difficult, but it was important to be there and to hear them out.”

Just prior to the start of the Q&A session, PAAFF Director Rob Buscher presented Cox and her husband the year’s best documentary award at PAAFF. The closing ceremony included a buffet of Filipino food and drink for all ticket holders at the Asian Arts Initiative.

For more information on Right Footed, visit Jessica’s website.

The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival is the largest Asian American film festival in the northeast with Rob Buscher as the festival’s director. For further information on the festival, you may reach him at: (267) 908-4784 or visit www.PAAFF.org