‘Technology is the limb I never had’

GOOD afternoon everyone.

My name is Joanne O’Riordan and firstly I’d like to thank all of those at the United Nations and the people from the International Telecommunication Union for this amazing and unique opportunity to speak here in front of you today. Being invited to New York the week of my 16th birthday is simply unbelievable.

As you can see, I was born without my limbs, but my motto in life is: No limbs, no limits. The disability I have is known as total Amelia and it is one of the rarest conditions known to us. I believe there are only seven people in the world living with this physical form and, furthermore, there is no medical explanation as to why I was born this way.