Lacey Henderson has overcome and achieved many things in her career on the track and in her life. But the Paralympic athlete helped lead the way of a dream that was turned into a reality that will benefit the disabled community in Colorado.
Henderson along with the Rocky Mountain Orthotic & Prosthetic Coalition led the charge in getting House Bill 1136 signed into law, which requires insurance companies in Colorado to cover the cost for additional prosthetics for recreation. Those who have a limb difference, limb loss or are amputees are eligible to have their cost covered for the additional prosthetics needed.
Henderson along with the RMOPC argued that movement is medicine and being able to participate in sports and recreation is a human right. The bill was signed into law on May 25 by the Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera.
“I did not review the Schoolhouse Rock video, but I felt like I was living in real life because passing a bill was a lot like working on a production set. It was a lot of hurry-up and wait – a lot of big performances, and then a lot of recovery efforts as well. But at the end of the day, what it does is it creates opportunities for people to be able to experience sports. One of the biggest barriers of access to sport is the equipment, like a pair of running shoes, trainers, bikes, that’ll cost you anywhere from $120 to $160 bucks. But a prosthetic will cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000 for a running leg. So it’s not just something where you’re like maybe I’ll try to run and see if I’m talented at it. That’s a financial commitment that a lot of people don’t have the privilege to afford, and now they do. So that’s been really cool.”
Being a paralympic athlete herself, Henderson understands the struggle that many disabled people endure. She was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma when she was 9-years-old, which led to her leg being amputated. Since then, she’s become an advocate for those with disabilities and uses her platform to educate others, while also bringing awareness to the injustices that they face. She believes her personal testimony and her calm demeanor was crucial in the process of the bill becoming a law.
“Being diplomatic in your own argument as well was something that I learned and was very, very useful in that experience. Also just not letting your emotions get ahead of you, because having that lived experience and knowing how hard it is everyday to make that fight but not taking it personal, I think was like what helped us get a lot of wins for sure.”
Henderson said that the final process of the bill being signed into law moved very quickly. For Henderson, what she helped to accomplish was not only for the disabled community in Colorado, but for future athletes who hope to build a future in the sport of track and field, as well as in the world.
“It was so surreal,” she said. “Everything moved so fast. They told us 24 hours before we were going to the Governor’s mansion that we were going to the Governor’s mansion. I brought my mom, and during some of the ceremonial speeches, I wept. But it was cool. I think just to know you’ve done something. Everything that I’ve done out on the track has been amazing, but I think that I’m getting to the age and stage of my life now where what you do with that momentum moving forward with it.
That was definitely one of the first major things that I was able to influence and be a part of, of course because of track, but as a way to create a better world and a more accessible world for the athletes to come in. I feel that the spirit of sport is being excited for the new and fresh talent. That’s something that’s been exciting to be in the later stages of my career is being able to see where I can influence change, and to see where you can fill in the spaces that weren’t available for you, so that these kids can continue to have insane performances. And they deserve that.”
Making a mark on the next generation for athletes is every important to Henderson, which is why she aims to use every bit of knowledge, wisdom and experience to leave the sport and the world better than she found it, which is one reason she takes great pride in her work and involvement with the House Bill 1136.
“I think my legacy honestly is that I was able to use my opportunities to make it better,” she said. “I think that’s what I’ve wanted for with my degree in my private practice in sports psych and some of the work behind the scenes with the bill, some of the work behind the scenes with alot of athlete meetings. That I was somebody to really use my powers for good and not for evil – that’s what I want my legacy to be.”
