https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3nwaEc_IA_gUdcR-OjDXofAXXWcrdAR/view

Citation: 

 Interview with Ralph Tommaso, History 150 Spring 2024, Conducted by Arianna Tommaso, March 19, 2024.

Overview of Interview:

In this social change interview conducted on March 19, 2024, I was able to learn my father’s perspective on the advancement in prosthetic technology. My father was born with one hand and one leg, he has gone through many stages of progression. My father and I discussed his experience as a disabled male and he goes on to talk about the brilliant developments throughout the past 55 years. Due to recent technology, he has been able to live a more comfortable lifestyle.

Many of his daily activities that he completes now, would not have been possible to achieve when he was younger. He was much more limited to simple tasks, but due to historical events, many aspects have changed. Societal issues that he struggled with were protected when the American Disability Act was published in 1990. In the interview, he recognizes that he is more accepted by the public. Another historical event that adapted improvements to the United States was the Gulf War. This affected everyone with a disability and helped make noticeable improvements to his everyday life. The children who were victims of this medical errors were not born with the same length of limbs. he briefly talks about how his experience having more of his arm and leg than many other children. He also mentions that being male in his generation is easier for him compared to women. The main idea is that he has been able to live a more “normal” life. At the age of 55, he says, “I am in the best shape I have ever been in.” In this interview my father shares how cities he’s lived in have benefited him, how society has changed, and most importantly his experience with advancement in prosthetic technology.

Biography of Interviewee:

I am interviewing my father, Ralph Tommaso. He is a white male, who was born with one hand and one leg due to a medical error in 1969. His mother was told to take the drug, Benedictine for her nausea during pregnancy. This drug resulted in his birth defects. He grew up in a four-family household, in New York, where no one else shared the same disability. He completes his daily tasks being left-side dominant and has gone through life with a very positive attitude about his appearance. Due to the advancements in technology over the years, he could eventually participate in basic tasks and live a full and fulfilling life. He is now 55 years old, working for his own business in New Jersey with 2 daughters and a wife. 

Research: 

In my research, I decided to dive deeper into three different topics. The American Disability Act otherwise known as the ADA. The medicine that my grandmother took, Benedictine, along with many other pregnant women. Lastly, I looked into the Gulf War because it is such a monumental event in history that led to the time of major prosthetic advancement.

Transcript:

Arianna (0.00): Hello, my name is Arianna Tommaso today’s March 19. And I’ll be interviewing my dad, Ralph Tommaso. He was born with one hand and one leg due to a medical error. Today, we are going to focus on social change and the technological improvements that have impacted his life. What was it like growing up being physically different than everyone else?

Ralph (0.17): Wow. You know, so that’s a great question. Growing up physically different from everyone else definitely had its challenges. But I kind of feel like everything happens for a reason because it really shaped me in certain profound ways. You know, there were times I’m not going to lie, I felt self-conscious and even, you know, isolated or lonely, especially when I counted like teasing or status from other kids, you know, but however, I was really fortunate to have supportive parents and friends that reminded me that my worth was defined more than physical appearance. So despite the challenges, being different taught me empathy, resilience, and creativity, it kind of forced me to find alternative ways of doing things and pushed me to excel in areas where physical limitations weren’t a factor, like school. And over time, I learned to embrace that uniqueness and see it now more of a strength rather than a weakness.

Arianna (1.14): Very nice. Were you comfortable being in your prosthetic when you were younger?

Ralph(1.18): Actually the prosthetic that I wear today is lightyears ahead in both comfort and function from what I had as a kid. The technology has really made changes, like if I compare now today feels like a cheetah’s leg. Whereas when I was a kid, it was like walking around with a brick, do they have one for your arm growing up, they had something for my hand, right when I hit about a teenager, but it was cosmetic only. So it limited my functionality. I spent 20 years learning to excel with what I had. And then I was put on something functional as a catcher’s mitt. While it looked good, it was useless as a functionality.

Arianna (1.58): Did you notice anything that accelerated the change in prosthetic technology, such as events like the Gulf War?

Ralph (2.03): Yeah, there were several factors like advancements in materials, you know, carbon fiber and titanium innovations in manufacturing, like 3d printing and computer scanning technology that’s really contributed to the acceleration of prosthetic technology over the years, but the thing that brought about the most acceleration advancements has to be the numerous wars we’ve had over the last 30 years.

Arianna (2.33): How has being active your whole life and being a runner changed your lifestyle and comfort?

Ralph (2.38): Wow. Well, being active throughout really impacted me in in many ways, right really. So first, regular exercise and staying active has helped me maintain overall fitness and strength but it that helps to compensate for any limitations caused by a birth defect, but it also being being healthy and physical and building up muscle mass minimizes, you know, any discomfort you know, additionally, anyone that has a physical disability, I always encourage them to be physically active because that helps to manage any discomfort and pain. But more importantly, it helps overcompensate for any social limitations that you’d have if it really helps build up your confidence and gives it allows you to have a more fulfilling and enjoyable life.

Arianna (3.24): So you would say your self-confidence has gotten better or worse from when you were kid.

Ralph (3.29): Oh, my self-confidence has definitely evolved and improved since I was a kid growing up with birth defect definitely presented as challenges, especially during my teenage years as a child, I kind of struggled with feelings of more self-consciousness and the fear of being judged or excluded because I was different. But now you know, that self-confidence is really like an ongoing journey. So there were definitely I would have to say today my birth defects has given me a feeling of empowerment, you know, to kind of face life’s challenges with courage, you know, lead into, you know, kind of a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness.

Arianna (4.09): Yeah. So you said you lived in the city just living close to major metropolitan makes it easier?

Ralph (4.14): Living close to a major city has definitely made certain aspects of my life easier, including access to health care, specialized services, definitely employment opportunities, and social inclusion, you have a wider pool of people, resources, and capital to take advantage of.

Arianna (4.34): And where else have you lived besides New York City?

Ralph (4.37): I lived in Chicago for a couple of years when I graduated college, and I lived I spent months in Japan, or both those cities or countries didn’t have didn’t give me any limitations.

Arianna (4.49): How has being a male with disability change the game for you? And what are some challenges or benefits you think you would have faced if you were the opposite gender?

Ralph (4.56): Being male male, has definitely provided certain advantages or opportunities, social norms and expectations are around mass, you know, being a male versus being a female female. I hate to say it our society judges people more about how they look as well as inclusion being a male. I’m focusing on my strength. I already said that, you know, physically, I never I had you limitations. I was good in sports. So that as a boy, that that’s really the number one factor at the time. Now, it’s video games. But when I was younger, it was sports that kind of allowed you to be included or not included.

Arianna (5.34): I know you said that you were discriminated against for being handicapped. How do you think the ADA, the American Disability Act has benefited you directly?

Ralph (5.42): it made people more aware that there were consequences if you were discriminated against. You were given, you know, when the ADA came about a mandate that the ADA made it more than norm to make it to be accepted with disabilities with respect to accessibility, employment rights, education, even transportation or public, I guess, public accommodations.

Arianna (6.11): I know, you said that your confidence has increased. But do you think your disability affected you positively?

Ralph (6.18): I would say that at 55. Looking back 55 years of being with this disability, if you asked me, was it a limitation at 15 and 18 and 23? I would have said yes. But as 55 year old that has gone that has a family, been successful in business, at school, has social circles, I would have to say that it has helped me more than hurt me. Looking back, I’m definitely grateful for the life I’ve led, including the struggles and the wins that I’ve had that, you know, over the years that’s kind of that shaped me. Everything happens for a reason. So I’m really glad the outcome regardless of any physical difference.

Arianna (7.03): And my last question for you today is if you were able to, would you want to be born with two hands and two legs?

Ralph (7.12): Wow. Again, if you’re asking me at 15, I would have said, Oh my god, I definitely want to be born with two hands and two legs, the advancements in technology, the advancements in my you know, the other strengths that came about because of my disability, I would say no, I wouldn’t want to have been born with definitely not two legs because the the prosthetic that I wear is superior to my god given limbs in with the head of technology hasn’t really come about which gives me full capability and strengths. So I would say no to the leg. I would definitely say yes to the hand. And it’s not for the same reasons that I would have had when I was a teenager. You know, as a teenager. I’m looking for cosmetics and acceptance, at 55 I am looking more towards functionality.

Arianna (8.03): All right, that was it. Thank you so much for your time today.

Bibliography: 

Juan_Algar. “Anonymous Amputee in Sportswear and Sneakers Walking on Crosswalk…” iStock, www.istockphoto.com/photo/handicapped-male-athlete-crossing-road-gm1459610275-493953954?utm_campaign=srp_photos_top&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Funsplash.com%2Fs%2Fphotos%2Fone-leg&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=unsplash&utm_term=one%2Bleg%3A%3A%3A. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

Overview of interview technology and process:

This interview was recorded over Zoom, my father lives in Warren, NJ and I am living in Harrisonburg, VA. The meeting was recorded via Zoom and the audio file was converted and saved as an mp3 file. I used Otter.ai to transcribe the interview and then edited the transcript manually.

Reflection:  

After conducting my interview, I was shocked at how deeply these technological improvements and events have affected my dad’s life. I had never asked such formal questions to my dad until this interview and I learned so much. It is inspiring to be my father’s daughter, his perseverance and mindset in society has helped me view life more positively.