Disability is a term that is used to describe the weakness of an individual based on their physical or mental health. Disability among individuals can occur either at birth, caused by mischance, or created after some time.
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Individuals suffering from Disabilities
Many individuals suffer from different kind of hardships. However, these hardships shouldn’t be the reason for them to cut themselves out from the rest of the world. This also includes those that suffer from disabilities. It’s not only just normal individuals that suffer from disabilities, even CEOs, artists, athletes etc suffer from it. Mentioned below are some well-known individuals that suffer from different kinds of disabilities.
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Top 16 Famous Personalities with Disability
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is an English Theoretical Physicist and is well known for his high achievements. He’s known as a celebrity in academics and is a recipient of various appreciations: Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Even though Hawking is suffering from a motor neuron disease, he did not back down and let his dreams slide away. He is a true inspiration for those who suffer from motor neuron disease.
I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. – Stephen Hawking
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt also known as FDR was a U.S. president that was able to help manage the country effectively throughout World War II. FDR is still viewed as an awesome president now and the whole time he was in office. Likewise, FDR was a wheelchair user. At the beginning of his political career, he contracted polio as he was drinking water at a campground. He was wound up noticeably starting from the waist. Even though his illness wasn’t made open until years later as he was afraid of the general society questioning his competency, FDR was an amazing president who proved that paralysis is not a hindrance to being a great leader.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
John Hockenberry
John Hockenberry is an American columnist and creator. He is a four-time Emmy Award Winner and three-time Peabody Award Winner. Hockenberry is known to be among the best writers that suffer from spinal cord injury. He worked with Dateline during the late 1990s making him one of the first few journalists to have worked on an American Television Network while being wheelchair. Additionally, he has written a book known as Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs and Declarations of Independence and also has been a part of a radio show known as The Takeaway as a host.
An object imbued with intent — it has power, it’s treasure, we’re drawn to it. An object devoid of intent — it’s random, it’s imitative, it repels us. It’s like a piece of junk mail to be thrown away. – John Hockenberry
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs is a well-known name around the world for his great achievements in his field of technology. Jobs is the founder of Apple Inc. which designs and builds iPhones, MAC, Apple Computers, Apple TV, etc. However, the Apple founder suffers from dyslexia. Even though dyslexia might make it hard for Jobs to read, it still hasn’t been able to stop or slow him down on his aspiration to innovate.
Ralph Braun
Ralph Braun is the founder of Braun Corporation which is one of the leading manufacturers of accessible wheelchair vehicles. Braun was an individual who succeeded in bringing change and freedom of mobility for those individuals who suffer from disabilities. Braun himself was born with a muscular dystrophy. The first wheelchair-accessible van was created in 1966 as Braun started his career. He created the first accessible minivan and was able to bring his vision forward as hope for other individuals.
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven was a music composer by profession. Even though he was deaf, he did not let this come his way and went on to become one of the biggest composers of his time. He was under the guidance of Mozart and studied Piano. Beethoven is well known for his excellent and uncertain improvisations.
What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.
Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen is the founder and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation and an advocate for those individuals who suffer from disabilities. Hansen is known to be a Paralympic athlete and has dedicated his life to disabled individuals so that he can remove barriers from their lives. Hansen suffered from a spinal cord injury and thus was paralyzed from the waist down.
My disability is that I cannot use my legs. My handicap is your negative perception of that disability, and thus of me. – Rick Hansen
Helen Keller
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. Keller is the first person to have earned a college degree despite being blind and deaf. The Play and Film “The Miracle Worker” is based on Helen Keller and shows various parts of her life including her teacher Anne Sullivan who was successful in developing a language that could easily be understood by Helen. Helen has successfully written 12 published books that also includes her autobiography.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.- Helen Keller
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Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is a very successful actress who is deaf. She is an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actress for her portrayal in the movie “Children if a Lesser God”. Matlin has been deaf since she was 18 months old due to a genetically malformed cochlea. Since her portrayal in the movie, she has been on many TV shows and reality shows.
It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I’m not crazy about using. – Marlee Matlin
John Forbes Nash Jr.
John Nash was a renowned American Mathematician who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Nash started developing signs of schizophrenia after a few years since he was out of college. However, despite his illness, he didn’t stop himself from loving and practicing mathematics. He developed some outstanding geometry and partial differential equations that are still considered as outstanding.
People are always selling the idea that people with mental illness are suffering. I think madness can be an escape. If things are not so good, you maybe want to imagine something better. – John Forbes Nash Jr.
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a well-known painter who suffered from polio. Even though she suffered from a physical disability, she didn’t stop from becoming one of the most loved and celebrated painters in Mexico. Kahlo’s painting includes “self-portraits, landscape, and figment of imagination”.
I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint. – Frida Kahlo
Marla Runyan
Marla Runyan is a professional runner who has been suffering from Stargardt disease since the age of 9. This particular disease left her blind for her entire life. However, this could not stop her from becoming a runner as she rose to become a national champion 3 times in a row in the women’s 5000-meter race. She has been winning various awards, medals, and trophies at national and international sporting events.
I think what I represent is achieving what you want in life. It’s a matter of your attitude. Some people have a negative attitude, and that’s their disability.- Marla Runyan
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is a musician, singer, and songwriter who was born blind. The reason for Wonder’s blindness was his being born 6 weeks early which caused his blood vessels not to reach the front. However, this did not stop Wonder from becoming a successful musician. Wonder signed his first album at the age of 11 and has more than 30 U.S. hit songs.
Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.- Stevie Wonder
Christy Brown
Christy Brown was a poet, painter, and author by profession. Brown suffered from cerebral palsy and until the age of 5 was not even able to respond according to his will. It was only after some time that his left foot was responsive. He is well-known for his autobiography “My Left Foot”.
was too young to know if my heart misbehaved itself in any way ― Christy Brown, My Left Foot
Bram Cohen
Bram Cohen suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome. However, his syndrome kept him busy within the “world of patterns, puzzles, and computers”. He helped him when he came up with the idea of a disruptive technology and created BitTorrent. BitTorrent allows individuals to transfer large sums of information over the Internet. Cohen illustrates how a disability can help individuals to do something different and unique from others.
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was the first man to build the first practical automobile and also successfully created a middle class in America. He suffered from dyslexia. However, this did not stop him from going forward with his dream.
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.- Henry Ford
In Summary
Above mentioned are famous personalities around the globe. They are an example of those who tend to give up on their dreams due to different kinds of hardships they suffer, especially those who suffer from disabilities. Individuals suffering from disabilities can take inspiration from these personalities and turn their weaknesses into their strengths. Moreover, these individuals are entitled to also apply for disability tax credits based on the type of disability they suffer from.
Helpful Resources for People Suffering from Disability
- Ultimate CPP Disability Guide
- 10 Mobile Apps for individuals suffering from Autism Spectrum 2018 Edition
- 14 Assistive Technologies for Individuals with Learning Disability
- 10 Best Assistive Technologies for ADD/ADHD
- 13 Best Mobile Apps for Individuals with ADD/ADHD 2017 Edition
- Top 7 Technologies to help People with Disability
- Top 9 Mobile apps to help People with Disability
- Long Term Disability Claims and Appeal
- Common Medical Conditions Eligible for Long-Term Disability Benefits
