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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman smiling. She is wearing an ivory sweater.
Seen and Heard Youth

Sarah Todd Hammer, 19

As a child, Sarah Todd Hammer fell in love with dance. When she was 8-years old, she was left a quadripalegic due to a disorder known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM). Now at age 19, she has recovered the ability to walk, though still has partial paralysis in her shoulders, arms, and right hand, and complete paralysis in her left hand. But Sarah Todd still loves to dance.

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ABC Nightline Feature 

Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman wearing a brown sweater, is sitting on a step outside.
Girls' Life Magazine

7 things not to say to disabled people (and what to say instead)

Sarah Todd Hammer is a GL reader and disability advocate who dedicates her time to educating and raising awareness about the disabled community. Here, she writes about common phrases she hears as a disabled person, and why it's important for able-bodied people to avoid using them.

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman wearing a light blue top, is smiling at the camera.
ABC Nightline Feature

Kids with AFM explore treatment options as public health professionals brace for next outbreak

Sarah Todd Hammer, 18, is one patient who’d developed AFM early on, in 2010. She said doctors didn’t seem to have answers at the time and that "no one really knew how to treat me." 

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AFM Virtual Symposium

The Gamut Network

Human Potential at Work Podcast

Barcroft | Truly

Girls Who Rock with Success Podcast

(click image below to listen)

Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman wearing a light blue dress, is smiling at the camera.
Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman, is wearing a blue dress and twirling outside.
Don't Hide It Flaunt It

Why I Smile

Every day I walk into school with my hair in a bun or two braids, my scar from spinal fusion surgery on display...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman holding up a magazine is smiling at the camera.
Girls' Life Magazine

11 Things I Want You to Know About Living with a Disability

Check out Sarah Todd's double-page spread in the Feb/March 2019 issue of Girls' Life Magazine!

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman wearing a light pink dress, is looking at the camera.
Love What Matters

‘When I reached down to pull up my tights, I realized my arms and hands were paralyzed. Scared, I said, ‘Mom, I can’t move my arms.’ 

‘When I reached down to pull up my tights, I realized my arms and hands were paralyzed. Scared, I said, ‘Mom, I can’t move my arms.’ 

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman wearing a colorful striped dress.
Seventeen Magazine

12 Things I Wish People Knew About Having a Physical Disability

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When I was eight years old, I was in the middle of ballet class when an excruciating headache came...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman, is dancing onstage. She is doing a twirl.
Rockettes' Dancer of the Week

Rockettes’ Pick for Dancer of the Week: 15-Year-Old Girl Dancing After Overcoming Paralyzation

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Why we chose her: Sarah Todd Hammer started dancing when she was just 3 years old. At the...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman, is smiling as she holds up her published book.
Nia's Role Model of the Week

Nia Sioux's Role Model of the Week

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Say hello to today’s #RoleModelMonday @sarahtoddhammer! Sarah is a dancer who became paralyzed...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman, is using an arm therapy bike as she smiles at the camera.
Potential Magazine

With a Good Attitude, 'Anything Is Possible'

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As our plane landed in Baltimore on Oct. 17, 2014, I couldn’t have been more excited. I reminded my mom that on the same day four...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white woman, is signing a book as she smiles at the camera.
SRNA

Mylife. my hope. Sarah Todd Hammer

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With my hair in a braid, a smile on my face, and the dance in my heart and mind, I flew across the stage, savoring the...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white girl is wearing a white sweater and smiling at the camera.
Amazing Kids! Magazine

Amazing Kid! of the Month – Sarah Todd Hammer – April 2016

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Sarah Todd Hammer started dancing when she was three. She was paralyzed from neck-down when she was eight...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white girl is posing with her books as she smiles at the camera.
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Patient Spotlight: Meet Sarah Todd

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Sarah Todd Hammer has always approached life with enthusiasm and a positive spirit, even after...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white girl is sitting at a piano and smiling at the camera.
HopingFor

How to Deal with Transverse Myelitis

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These tips on how to deal with Transverse Myelitis are from a young girl. Sarah Todd was suddenly afflicted with the...

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Sarah Todd, a young, blonde, white girl sitting in a wheelchair, is outside with her dad.
A Continuum of Care

A Continuum of Care

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Shortly into ballet practice one day Sarah Todd Hammer developed a painful headache, so her mom, Lisa, decided to take her home...

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