Olivia Babis, a graduate of the University of Memphis and a current resident of Sarasota, Florida, was born with no arms and is running in an election to become the first person with a physical disability to be elected to the Florida Legislature.
Babis attended George Washington University for most of her degree program, but with one semester left, she had to leave school due to family complications.
This desision costed Babis her scholarship, forcing her to search for a university that would be more flexible with her time. She learned the University of Memphis was perfect for what she needed.
“The program was online and convenient, and it could work around a work schedule,” Babis said.
Growing up, Babis was placed in special education classrooms because of her physical disability. She was part of one of the first waves of children with disabilities allowed to go to public schools.
“Before that, we were sent to a day program, more of a babysitting service than a place that provides education,” Babis said. “There was only one elementary, middle and high school in the entire county that allowed students with disabilities, so even though I had a school that was right down the street that I was zoned for, that wasn’t the one I was allowed to go to.”
After she was placed in regular classes, her school made her take an IQ test to see if she could continue on to higher education.
“I ended up testing gifted, and they still would not let me into the gifted program,” Babis said.
Her physical disability was being misperceived as a mental disability as well, and that same mindset has entered her campaign for the Florida District 23 Senate seat.
“I have heard people say, ‘Just because you are making history does not make you qualified,’” Babis said. “Well no, I’m not claiming that it does. It’s my background in policy that makes me qualified for this position.”
Despite the criticism, Babis does not let her disability define her as a person. It is just another obstacle she has to pass through.
She found inspiration while living in Florida and seeing how her district has not changed much since she was starting school at 5 years old.
“The big motivation for me was watching my community continue to struggle with accessibility,” Babis said. “In District 23, we are the third-oldest district in Florida, but we are ranked 46th in accessibility.”
The goal of her campaign is to show people that disabilities should not stop their dreams, just as it is not hindering her dream of being elected a senator in Florida.
“I don’t wake up in the morning and decide, ‘Oh, I don’t want to deal with this today,’” Babis said. “No, you learn to adapt and live with it and live your life with it.”
