Haben Girma is a disability rights attorney and young activist who graduated from Harvard Law School in 2013. Girma made headlines last year after she met with President Obama and won a landmark case guaranteeing that the Americans With Disabilities Act applies to online commerce.
Girma, who has never let her physical challenges hinder her, is also an avid surfer. She was recently featured in a short video for Reuters, surfing with the aid of an instructor. Girma uses physical cues to communicate with her her instructor. She normally uses an electronic device that converts sound to braille symbols, but can’t bring the device into the water with her.
“It’s symbolic of all of the possibilities that are out there,” Girma says. “I’m not afraid to get in the water, try something new, look silly for a bit.”
Watch Haben Girma in action below.
h/t Cosmopolitan.