Calgarian Alvin Law defends Paralympics music video featuring people with disabilities

CalgarianAlvin Law's feet are kind of famous.

They're seen inthe opening close-upshotof a controversial music video that's been viewed by millions of people worldwide and criticized in the media as "inspiration porn."

As the camera zooms out of a drumroll, the audience catches a glimpse of a big toe, then two ankles, and gradually it clues in: those aren't hands.

The inspirational video, titledWe are theSuperhumans,features musicians and athletes from around the world, some of whom are in wheelchairs, some who wear prosthetics and some who don't.

"They are not embarrassed about their stumps," Law toldCBC'sThe Homestretch.

"We're very proud of what we can do."

Created to celebrate Britain's coverage of theParalympic Games, the videofeatures one-legged tap dancers and race car drivers, armless piano players and pilotsand Paralympians competing in everything from archery, tofencing, swimming and sprinting.

• Watch CBC Sports' live coverage of the 2016ParalympicGames

But aUniversity of Ottawa PhDcandidate recently criticized the video for propagating unrealisticexpectations of what people with disabilitiesshould be able to accomplish.

"Once you get something big enough and it has enough views,there'salways going to be people that are detracting," Law explained.

"I started doing audacious things likethis in 1981 to show people an extreme to get them to move to the middle. That's exactly what this project is all about," Law said.

"This isn't making a public society and our state of the union affairs address," he said.

"This is simply a video promoting the OlympicGames to get people to realize that, in my opinion, the Paralympians are just as talented as the 'real ones.'"

Hitthe 'jackpot' with adoptive parents

Law was born in 1960, and was one of Canada's first so-called "thalidomide babies" infants born withbirth defects causedby adrug that was meant toalleviatemorning sickness.

At just four days old, Law was put up for adoption and eventually"hit the jackpot" with his adoptive parents, he said.

"My mom taught me to sew buttons on rags with my toes, including threading the needles, tying the knots when I was three years old. Who does that?"

His father taught him to skate, and as with most kids,Lawfell flat on his face the first time he took to the ice.

"Instead of dad scooping me in his arms and taking me for an ice cream, it was like, 'Get off your butt. You're making a mess!'"

Lawsaid society has "come lightyears" with regard to inclusionand awareness for people living with disabilities.

"I remember what it felt like to be looked at all the time, to be stared at all the time, to be given these looks of, 'Oh my God, you're disgusting,'" said Law, who grips hishamburgers between his first and second toe to eat.

Today, the most common thing he hears when he's out interacting with people is, "Wow, that's cool man," he said.

"When I was 16, I wasn't feeling real cool. Now I am."

With files from The Homestretch