7-Year-Old Girl Without Hands Wins U.S. National Handwriting Contest

Anaya Ellick, 7, won the national handwriting competition even with a disability. This first grader was born without hands, yet she managed to beat 50 youngsters who entered the competition.

According to Tracy Cox, principal of Greenbrier Christian Academy, where Ellick studies, there is simply "very little that this girl cannot do." It was Cox who urged Ellick to join the national handwriting competition, seeing the resolute and strong character of the little girl.

This 7-year-old girl without hands won a handwriting competition https://t.co/OiMbi6KP4W pic.twitter.com/43j6EPDVcz

— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 6, 2016

Yahoo reported that Ellick only uses her forearms to write. Despite the disability, she got to deliver the most impressive handwriting which obviously wowed the judges. The competition was open to students from kindergarten up to eighth-grade students.

Ellick did not desire for prosthetics. She was not treated any differently by other students. With her forearms, she got to do anything that she set her heart and mind at.

Determined And Independent

Cox said that Ellick was a determined, independent, vivacious and no-excuses type of girl. Cox also called Ellick as a hard worker.

According to Fox2Now, Ellick would stand at her desk, put her pencil between her two arms and find the proper angle so that she could write well. This independence is not only shown in school. Her parents also said that even at home, she ties her own shoes, wears her dress and does not need assistance for anything.

The penmanship of Ellick was submitted in the category where students with developmental disabilities and cognitive delays joined. Occupational therapists are the judges for this category.

Handwriting Akin To Someone With Hands

According to Kathleen Wright, the competition director, Ellick's handwriting was likened to that of somebody with hands. Despite the fact that she only used her forearms to write, her handwriting was remarkable.

Ron H. White, Greenbrier's founder and superintendent said, that he does not think that Ellick thinks of her disability as an obstacle. If there's something about Ellick, it's her determination and strong will that make her the little independent girl that she is, winning a national handwriting competition in the process.