Heartwarming Clip Shows The Importance Of Representation

Unless you’re being affected, it can be easy to underestimate the impact of being underrepresented. But as much research has shown, the time, effort, and care needed to represent our diverse world is oh-so-worth it. But here’s the thing: We don’t need to read scientific research to understand the value of representation. All we need to do is look for and listen to those around us, including a little boy with spina bifida named Ezra Spinelli.

Videos by InspireMore

This 5-year-old boy adores being active. But he struggles to do so because his condition affects his spine. Because his spine and spinal cord didn’t form properly, he faces a number of struggles. This includes his ability to walk. But despite the fact that a number of little ones need wheelchairs like himself, he rarely sees them in shows, movies, and other forms of media. So, when he noticed that their local Target included a sign with a little girl in a wheelchair, he was ecstatic! Check out his reaction in the video below.

“There’s a girl in the wheelchair just like me!” Ezra can he heard calling out. “The girl in the wheelchair is just like me!”

The look of pure joy and excitement on Ezra’s face is absolutely priceless! It’s clear that seeing someone like him means the world. Thanks to viral videos like this one, it’s truly easy to understand why representation matters so much.

“And just like that my eyes are leaking,” someone shares in reply to Ezra’s heartwarming reaction, with another adding, “Representation matters. Representation is important. Representation changes lives.”

“As a girl in a wheelchair who never saw representation growing up,” a third person writes, “this makes my heart so full.”

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!