When he was young, Ryan Haack never thought of himself as limited or a person with a disability. Born missing his left arm just below the elbow, he navigated childhood surrounded by a support system featuring a big loving family, encouraging teachers, and a ton of friends. The fact that he only had one hand was obvious, but to young Ryan, it ranked low on his list of daily worries.

“I knew that I only had one hand, but it was kind of down the list of things that I was concerned with,” Haack recalled. “I was very athletic, I wanted to play a lot of sports, and I was a pretty funny kid who liked being the center of attention.”

That self-assured attitude showed up early. After the first day of fourth grade, Haack’s mother received a phone call from his teacher thanking her for having Ryan introduce his limb difference to the class. His mother was surprised, she had instructed no such thing.

Haack had simply taken the floor on his own initiative: “Hey, my name’s Ryan, I was born with one hand, it’s not that big of a deal. Does anybody have any questions?” Haack laughed remembering the story. “I just took it upon myself to get it out of the way so we could move on.”

Mastering daily life through trial and error

Growing up without adaptive equipment, Haack approached everyday tasks and athletics through pure trial and error. While strangers often assumed he played soccer because hands weren’t allowed, Haack gravitated toward baseball, basketball, football, track, and golf, not to mention playing multiple instruments across concert and jazz bands in middle and high school.

On the baseball diamond, Haack pitched and played all across the field, mastering a lightning-fast glove transfer that continues to stun audiences: catching the ball, pinning the glove against his chest, sliding the mitt under his left arm, and letting the ball roll down into his throwing hand in a single, fluid motion.

“When I talk at school assemblies, showing that ball transfer is my favorite part at the end,” Haack said. “It’s like a magic trick… the kids kind of lose their minds when they see it.”

Haack learned early on that opponents often underestimated him at first, only to realize quickly that he was a fierce competitor and surprisingly athletic. Today, when anxious parents ask him how their children with limb differences will ever participate in sports or daily routines, Haack offers simple, reassuring advice, “If your kid wants to do something, they’ll figure it out. There’s usually a way to get it done.”

Finding community and paying it forward

Despite Haack’s confidence, one glaring reality marked his youth: he grew up on an island without ever seeing or meeting another person with a limb difference.

It wasn’t until he reached his thirties that Haack discovered the broader limb-difference community online. Seeing how isolated many children and families still felt sparked a calling. Haack launched Living One-Handed, an outreach platform and blog dedicated to offering practical life hacks, humor, and encouragement.

In 2015, Haack published the acclaimed children’s book Different Is Awesome!, inspired by a childhood memory of his younger brother, Joey, bringing Ryan to school for show-and-tell. The book quickly resonated nationwide, leading to school visits and keynote presentations where Haack shared a core message: differences are not flaws to be pitied, but the very qualities that make each person unique and capable.

A full-circle bond: Mentoring Jack

Nowhere has that mission been more evident than in Haack’s bond with a young boy named Jack.

Their connection began with a serendipitous social media post. When Different Is Awesome! entered its sixth printing, Haack realized he didn’t own a copy from an earlier run. He posted a callout on Facebook offering to trade a signed copy for an earlier edition. Jack’s family had one, and the exchange ignited a lasting mentorship.

Over the years, Haack visited Jack’s school, spent time with his family, and hosted community meetups for families navigating limb differences. For Jack, having Haack in his corner meant having a role model who had walked the path before him.

“Seeing them have the ability to connect with so many other kids in so many ways has been amazing,” Haack said. “Seeing Jack’s confidence grow and watching him feel like a star in his own school community is really, really cool.”

Their story reached an even broader audience when a short documentary chronicling their relationship won a People’s Choice Telly Award. While the recognition was gratifying, the true highlight came when Jack received his own award trophy.

Normalizing differences in the classroom

During Haack’s school visits, he tackles kids’ curiosity directly, inviting them to ask whatever is on their minds.

“Kids’ brains work overtime trying to figure out how this affects me,” Haack explained. “My all-time favorite question was when a kid asked me, ‘How many bones do you have?’ I was blown away because I’d never thought about it, but with half an arm missing, I really do have significantly fewer bones!”

Haack also uses engaging challenges to build empathy among students without disabilities. He often challenges students to go home and try putting on their socks or pulling on a shirt using only their right hand. “They get so excited to try it, and it gives them a firsthand appreciation for how we adapt.”

Advocacy in the community and beyond

Haack’s passion for inclusion extends well beyond youth advocacy. For over two decades, he has worked with Medica, serving as a dedicated Medicaid advocate. Working directly with lower-income individuals and families on the margins of the healthcare system has deepened his commitment to equity.

“Working with populations who are in the margins or need more assistance gives me a leg up in recognizing barriers and fighting for them,” Haack said. “Medica has been incredibly supportive of my school visits, literacy nights, and outreach.”

Looking to the future, Haack plans to expand his speaking engagements into corporate and organizational settings.

“Kids need to hear this message, but adults need to hear it just as much,” Haack noted. “When I speak to adults, it surprises them how much they needed that reminder that we are all valuable just the way we are.”

From figuring out how to tie his shoes alone to inspiring rooms of schoolchildren and mentoring kids like Jack, Ryan Haack continues to prove that differences aren’t always limitations. Differences can also be awesome.