WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — A Pittsburgh-area girl
born without hands has won a penmanship
award — and $1,000 — from a company
that publishes language arts and reading
textbooks.
Zaner-Bloser Inc. recognized 7-year-old
Annie Clark at Wilson Christian Academy in
West Mifflin on Wednesday with its first-ever
Nicholas Maxim Award.
Nicholas was a Maine fifth-grader born
without hands or lower arms who entered
the company's penmanship contest last
year. His work impressed judges enough
that they created a new category for
students with disabilities.
After the ceremony Wednesday, Clark
demonstrated her ability to write by
manipulating a pencil between her
forearms. Asked whether she was nervous
about the attention, the girl said, "Not really,
but kind of."
The girl's parents, Tom and Mary Ellen Clark,
have nine children — three biological and
six adopted from China, including Annie.
Annie is one of four of the adoptees who
have disabilities that affect their hands or
arms. The Clarks also have an adopted child,
Alyssa, 18, and a biological daughter, Abbey,
21, with Down syndrome.
"Each time, we weren't looking to adopt a
special-needs child, but that is what
happened," said Mary Ellen Clark, 48, of
McKeesport. "This was the family God
wanted for us."
Annie has learned to paint, draw and color.
She also swims, dresses, eats meals and
opens cans of soda by herself, and uses her
iPod touch and computers without
assistance. She hopes to someday write
books about animals.
"She's an amazing little girl," said Tom Clark,
49, who owns an automotive dealership.
"It's a shame because society places so
many rules on how people should look, but
the minds of these kids are phenomenal."
Mary Ellen Clark hopes the award
encourages her daughter "that she can do
anything."
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