Crafting His Own Legs, UVA Student Inspires Others to Lead and Overcome
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Brian Douglas, a double amputee and UVA kinesiology graduate, constructed his own prosthetic legs while mentoring fellow amputees like Kaden Bagley. A national para-athlete and president of UVA’s Student Disability Alliance, Douglas blends engineering, empathy, and leadership to redefine resilience. With goals to reform prosthetic policy and expand access, his story empowers others to lead, overcome, and walk tall—on legs he built himself.
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The way individuals live their lives can have a profound impact on those around them. For the then-15-year-old Kaden Bagley, who lost a leg in a boating accident, the demeanor of then-18-year-old Brian Douglas served as a source of motivation. Upon their first meeting, Bagley thought that if Douglas could overcome his challenges, so could he.
Douglas was born with a condition that required the amputation of both his legs when he was just 11 months old. But he hasn’t allowed this to hinder his pursuit of personal growth. He became an All-American wheelchair tennis player and a two-time national champion in para-swimming. Now, at 21, Douglas’s athletic accomplishments showcase his determination, but they only scratch the surface of his impact.
Two years ago, as a seasonal employee at Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates in Orlando, Douglas constructed and fitted his own prosthetic legs. In an interview with UVA Today, he likened this surreal achievement to the process of building and driving one’s own car successfully.
Abby Fines, a kinesiology professor at the University of Virginia (UVA), notes that it is uncommon for amputees to create their own limbs, highlighting how exceptional Douglas is.
Lighting the Way for Others
For Douglas, the most significant contribution he makes is through his role as a mentor. Bagley, one of his earliest mentees, not only learned to walk again under Douglas’s guidance but also discovered friendship, joy, and the self-assurance needed to rebuild his life.
Bagley shared that upon first meeting Douglas, he saw that his double leg loss did not hinder him at all. This realization helped Bagley understand that limb loss does not mean the end for his dreams. Today, he is thriving as a scholarship wheelchair basketball player at the University of Alabama.
Douglas draws upon his experiences to foster empathy in his mentorship. He recalled a moment from elementary school when he hid behind a towel during swim lessons to avoid teasing; these memories drive his mission to relieve the isolation many individuals living with limb loss face. His goal as a mentor is to instill a sense of “invincibility” and reduce the feelings of alienation that can accompany disability.
Moreover, Douglas’s impact goes beyond individual mentorship. As the president of UVA’s Student Disability Alliance, he organizes events such as the kinesiology department’s adaptive sports field day, "Roll With Jim." He also speaks to classes about living with prosthetics.
In an interview with UVA Today, Professor Fines emphasized how Douglas’s narrative enriches students’ understanding by integrating concepts from engineering, medicine, and human resilience.
Plans for the Future
Through the kinesiology program at UVA, Douglas gained invaluable hands-on experience at two prosthetic-orthotic centers, where he not only assisted others in learning to walk but also honed his skills in limb design. Looking ahead, he aims to pursue a master’s in biotechnology at the McIntire School of Commerce, with aspirations to transition into policy and legislation. His goal is to standardize care, ensuring equitable access to high-quality and functional prosthetic devices for all users.
He is motivated to inspire others, creating a full-circle experience that begins with being inspired and culminates in becoming an inspiration himself.
Douglas’s drive to give back has deep roots, ignited in his youth by encounters with Paralympians like Blake Leeper. These encounters allowed him to believe in possibilities. Now, he is motivated to inspire others, creating a full-circle experience that begins with being inspired and culminates in becoming an inspiration himself.
As of this writing, Douglas has graduated and is gearing up for his next chapter. Despite his youth, he has already begun to forge a legacy of empowerment. His mentee Bagley is now paying it forward, mentoring a teenager from South Carolina. He shared that Douglas empowered him to be the person he needed when he was a struggling teenager.
Douglas’ journey is just beginning. With his budding work in prosthetics, advocacy efforts, and plans for legislative reform, he is setting a new benchmark for what is possible. And as he advocates for inclusion at UVA and beyond, his legacy is one of leadership, hope, and walking tall on legs he built himself.
Related reading:
Man Lives Life to the Fullest After Losing Right Leg in Accident
A Design Guide for DIY Prostheses
Engineering Freshmen Design Promising Prosthetic Hiking Foot
