A Canadian woman born without arms and with shortened legs has fulfilled her lifelong dream of driving after overcoming many obstacles and significant financial challenges.
Talli Osborne, 44, recently obtained her driver’s license in Las Vegas after a seven-year struggle that included delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the hefty cost of modifying a vehicle to meet her needs.
Osborne’s journey began when she purchased a fuchsia Mini Cooper, which she described as her dream car. However, the vehicle required nearly $100,000 of modifications to make it drivable for her.
Despite the difficulties, including a $1,000 appointment with an occupational therapist and the daunting price tag, Osborne refused to give up on her goal. “If you truly want to achieve something, you can do it no matter the hurdle,” she told CBC.
The pandemic further complicated her plans, and there were moments when her mother suggested selling the car to ease the financial burden.
However, Osborne was determined to keep her dream alive. “If I sell this car, that’s me literally giving up on this dream, and I’ve come this far already,” she said. “So I just kept paying for it and paying the insurance.”
A breakthrough came when the War Amps’ Child Amputee Program, which supports child amputees with financial assistance for artificial limbs, offered to help cover the costs of the car’s modifications. Osborne was grateful, recalling how she “almost cried” upon receiving the news.
The Mini Cooper was fitted with specialized modifications, including a 5-inch-diameter steering wheel mounted on the left door, extended gas and brake pedals, and a touch screen for changing gears and using turn signals. The car also features a seatbelt that Osborne can fasten by herself.
However, getting the car ready was only part of the challenge. Osborne then had to obtain her driver’s license in Nevada, a process that required a doctor’s note from an occupational therapist and forms that described her condition as an “illness.”
Osborne found this experience demeaning, as she explained, “I was born this way, and nothing’s changing… It was just degrading for me because I’m not ill. It felt so disgusting.”
Osborne, who works as a motivational speaker, has been sharing her driving journey on social media, where she’s received a mix of support and scepticism. Some questioned her ability and need to drive independently, but Osborne remains undeterred. “For me to get my license, it’s a million times harder, so I’m going to be a million times better driver,” she asserted.
With her modified car and new license in hand, Osborne is looking forward to travelling, including a planned trip to California to visit friends. Her sister, Mir, is particularly excited about this milestone, expressing her anticipation for the day Osborne can pick her up from the airport.
“This is a very positive thing, going in the right direction for a level of independence and freedom that many people with disabilities don’t get to have,” Mir said.
