Surgery separated those toes, and he learned to use them as fingers to perform many tasks. She is a tennis player who takes part in competitions for able-bodied athletes and for athletes with disabilities. Braille began developing his touch-based code when he was still a student. .linkGroupItems li a { If you are a Hollywood movie enthusiast, you might already know that the character of Rain Man (1988) was based on Kim Peek. After the release of the movie, the Newsweek reported Christopher Reeves entire performance is a delight. In private he used a wheelchair and despite his paralysis, he retained his humor and charisma and was elected President an unprecedented four times. Both of his legs were amputated below the knee due to fibular hemimelia. Image Source: Google Images Sources: United Nations, Forbes, Autism Community Find The Blogger: @evidenceofmine This post is tagged under: ASD, autism, autistic, personalities, famous personalities, intellectuals, autistic intellectuals, autistic famous personalities, autistic personalities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, asperger's, aspergers, Aspergers, asperger's syndrome, aspergers syndrome . Nick Vujicic 4. During secondary school Vujicic was elected school captain and at age twenty one he graduated from Griffith University with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. Depp has won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards. Prof. Stephen Hawking was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1974. Instead, they found ways to overcome their challenges and to achieve amazing things in spite of their disabilities. Among the common condition that famous people have is the intellectual disabilities. At the age of 21 Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with a rare early-onset slow-progressing form of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) also known as motor-neuron disease. Now he directs the schools Center for Theoretical Cosmology and has received dozens of honorary degrees. You try living with that." At the age of 22, Pollock lost his eyesight, but later went on to be the first blind man to complete the race to the South Pole. Read on to learn about 15 people who refused to be limited by their disabilities. Similarly, we find Achievers with Disability in all corners of the world. "I often wished that more people understood the invisible side of things. "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." Winston Churchill. I am a special education teacher and would love to display one! They didnt see their disabilities as insurmountable obstacles, but as challenges that would push them to achieve great things. Rocky star Sylvestor Stallone who is a multi-millionaire and famous actor who didn't give up after being labeled as having a learning disability. Mia Mingus via Oakland Local. When Parkinson's struck at age twenty-nine, Michael threw himself into building awareness and funding Parkinson's research. "Much of the time," says animal welfare pioneer Temple Grandin, "I feel like an anthropologist on Mars." Grandin has autism, but it would be hard to call her condition a disability. ALSO READ: Famous People with Myasthenia Gravis #14 Thomas A. McKean. All three men grew to be known as world-renowned geniuses in the academic and artistic field. Life and Achievements: Franklin D. Roosevelt (30 January 1882 12 April 1945), popularly known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States. Keller was an advocate for people with disabilities, an author and she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920. He was injured in a shooting before getting involved in politics. Due to her inability to communicate normally, she was diagnosed as an imbecile at the age of five and as a teenager was sent to an institution for the mentally and physically disabled where she was severely mistreated for eight years. Considered one of most influential scientist. Hawking is still alive, battling his debilitating disease and refusing to let it interfere with his career. Due to an illness that started in 1987, she became paralyzed in March 1990. The contents of this site are for informational and educational purposes only. Immersing himself in his music, Beethoven hit many milestones during his life, making music that is still popular today. Your email address will not be published. Albert Einstein, arguably the most famous scientist in the history of the world, was said to be "slow" as a child. However, he continued with his music career, despite his growing inability to hear. His disability affected his ability to run across the second largest country in the world but he did it anyway. Known for his indomitable fighting spirit, Nick easily makes his way into any list of famous persons with disabilities. Now he uses a single cheek muscle attached to a speech generating device and continues to lecture, teach and research. Prof. Hawking was confined to a special wheelchair mounted with a computer that used to speak for him. While many would have given up after such an accident, Reeve pushed through the hardship and continued on with his success. Some of the famous people with intellectual disabilities are: Albert Einstein Everyone knows who Albert Einstein was. And, disabled swimmers in the USA are given an award in her name Trischa L Zorn Award. Is it someone who has accomplished something that you dream of doing? These tests may include: an IQ test (a score of 70-75 may . She went on to become one of the leading and well respected literary figures of Nepal and has also become a symbol of courage to people with disabilities around the world. I have a serious soft spot for Nick as he was born in Australia like me and I discovered him (one of his early lectures specifically) long before he became a world-renowned motivational speaker. In 1938, Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, leading to the development of polio vaccines. But, very few people know that his first fight was against dyslexia. Vujicic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs (he does. One of Andrea's first breaks came in 1992 when he recorded a demo tape of "Miserere." Andrea Bocelli was born with congenital glaucoma (caused by incorrect development of the eye's drainage system before birth) which left him partially blind. Marla Runyan 10. Michelangelo,on the other hand, had an inability to form long-term attachments and other eccentricities which are easily explained by a diagnosis of autism. A year later he was paralyzed by polio and in a wheelchair. His condition improved with age and he went on to be a Senior Research Mathematician at Princeton. Alexander Graham Bell most likely had dyslexia, and he went on to invent the first practical telephone. News of his invention spread. Intellectual disability can happen any time before a child turns 18 years old, even before birth. Modern doctors have published papers on the potential causes of Beethovens deafness, but whether it was due to lead poisoning or an autoimmune disorder, it didnt stop him from achieving success. In this article, we are presenting a few people from various countries who are famous for their achievements despite struggling with different types of disabilities. She contracted polio at the age of six. A global icon. As part of her rehab, Esther learned to play volleyball, basketball, and tennis in a wheelchair. Kahlo fought through the repercussions of her polio diagnosis by going against societal norms and playing sports in an attempt to regain her strength. But Nick did. While at Oglethorpe University, she discovered her talent for acting. He went on to become a world-renowned billionaire investor, business magnate, author and philanthropist. Trischa has been legally blind since birth due to her rare condition. Nature of Disability: Acute Paranoid Schizophrenia. Given a diagnosis of ALS at the age of 21, Steven Hawking was given two years to live. Through these famous peoples life stories about how they overcome their disabilities, a positive change in their lives also occurred. He eventually grew up to be literate in several languages and a famed religious poet and historian. He is a musician, singer and songwriter who was born blind. He lives on through his research and his story will continue to be told in the film created about his work, The Theory of Everything., Achievements: preacher and motivational speaker. He never did achieve his goal of walking. She founded the only comprehensive pediatric CP Center in the country and her main cause is correcting common misconceptions about cerebral palsy such as: Children with cerebral palsy do not need to stand and physicians cannot do anything about these childrens vision problems. The billionaire entrepreneur is the only person in the world to have built eight billion-dollar companies from scratch, and believe it or not, he credits his learning "disability" for much of his success. column-fill: balance; Branson has the ability to connect in a level that is personal. Wecapable.com. In 2000 she qualified again for the Olympic team, and this time she was brought on for the 1500-meter event and returned to compete again in 2004. He developed great dexterity in his left foot that later made him famous for following his passion. And someday, you might become someone elses inspiration. 14. Here are some famous people with a disability who went after their dreams and passions. As soon as I heard him speak, even though he was still young at the time, I knew he held the power to positively impact others, especially physically-challenged individuals who may have felt depressed or confronted by their limitations. John Nash was an American mathematician who suffered from acute paranoid schizophrenia and his life was portrayed in the movie A BEAUTIFUL MIND. "Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life." - Les Brown. People with intellectual disability perform . During Brown's adolescence, he explored books and painting materials, developing an interest and talent in the arts and literature. 11 Successful and Famous People with Disabilities, your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, Final Thoughts on Famous People with Disabilities, 45 Famous Failures Who Became Successful People, 11 Inspiring Famous People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, 9 Successful People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), 155 Gratitude Journal Prompts to Create More Thankfulness in Your Life, 25 Inspirational Songs About Following Your Dreams. He was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letter in the UK and a medal of excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers. It is often these negative attitudes that impede the success of people with disabilities more than any mental or physical impairment that they have. CP Center in the country and her main cause is correcting common misconceptions about cerebral palsy such as: He plays the violin while seated and critics say there is something so transcending about the emotions Itzhak is able to communicate through, Also called Herman the Cripple, he was an. Doctors considered him to be intellectually disabled as well however his mother continued to speak to him, work with him, and try to teach him. list-style: none; He contributed a lot in the field of science but despite his success as a scientist, he suffered from learning disability. Sir Richard Branson was a high school dropout at the age of 15. Looking at the art pieces on this list you couldn't tell that they were created by someone with adversity, often with tremendous amounts of effort and time. Helen Keller Helen Keller broke down many barriers, notably being the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. Like. They didnt focus on what life had taken away from them but rather on what life had to offer. Ruth was a quadriplegic and an American disability rights activist, best known for her autobiography I Raise My Eyes to Say Yes, co-authored with Steven B. Kaplan. James Carville - Carville is best known as a political consultant and commentator who led campaigns for former President Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Cory wasnt about to let his limited mobility keep him from exploring every part of the world. Many of her works mix realism and fantasy and explore themes such as identity, gender, class, and race. Having self-awareness helps you develop meaningful goals for your life and guide you in making the best decisions to serve your needs. It was extremely tormenting, but consistent help and . Octavia E. Butler. And despite his problems with reading he developed a deep love of Shakespeare. neurologist in the U.S. who also has Cerebral Palsy, and she is one of the leading scientists in CP research. Your email address will not be published. Although German, his artwork was connected to the Surrealist artists of Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. Life and Achievements: Who does not know the legendary heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali? These Celebrities Live Their Lives With Hidden Disabilities By Melissa Young Published Jun 09, 2021 Legendary Hollywood names such as Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, Avril Lavigne, and Lil Wayne all have disabilities. He starred in the famous Back to the Future trilogy. Helen Keller is one of the most well known figures of the 20th century who inspired future generations of those with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. Steven Hawking 3. Bocelli showed a great passion for music as a young boy. Life and Achievements: Helen Keller (27 June 1880 01 June 1968) is probably the best known icon of persons with disabilities. Franklin Roosevelt In 1921, Franklin Roosevelt was a rising star in the Democratic party when polio struck him and left him with paralyzed legs. Christy learned to write and draw using only his left foot and grew into a serious artist. Nature of Disability: Dwarfism. Sir Richard Branson - Branson is the founder of Virgin Airlines. Decision: In 1980, a group called the Cleburne Living Center (CLC) intended to open a group home for 13 men and women with intellectual disabilities, to be staffed 24 hours a day. If you are curious about how you can make your life instantly better, I have a great, If youd love me as your private life coach check out, If you want to improve your parenting skills dramatically check out, If you want to learn how to manage your mind to get any result you want out of life check out, You can listen to the Dream Big My Friend podcast here on, All my other courses (more than 40!) But, urged by his wife and a close associate, he re-entered public life. Throughout her childhood, Esther Vergeer suffered from headaches and other pains. However, Nick grew into an empowered adult who turned his disability into a positive force for the world once he recognized his own potential. Newton is now widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. As a kid, Einstein experienced difficulty in talking. Life and Achievement: Nick Vujicic was born on 4 December 1982 in Melbourne, Australia. When she was 17, she dove into shallow water and crushed part of her spinal cord. And as you know, living in line with your values gives you a sense of purpose, boosts your self-esteem, and offers the strength that you need some days to persevere when youre faced with inevitable challenges. padding-right: .5rem; Life and Achievements: Esther Vergeer has been the most dominant player in professional sports. Autobiography of Helen Keller, The Story of My Life, is considered a classic book in English literature. They have since competed in over a thousand endurance events, including marathons, triathlons and Ironman competitions with Dick pushing his son in a custom-made running chair. Peter Dinklage has won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series four times. She won her first international table tennis medal in 1999 at the disabled World Championships. Few scientists were researching its causes, and even fewer doctors and educators were trained to support people with intellectual disabilities and their families. This famed Irish author was born with cerebral palsy, after been deprived of oxygen for two hours at birth. That may be the case for some. 9) Lenin Moreno. The same can be true for you. Disability affects human beings all around the world. Brown was also a natural novelist, leading him to publish his famous autobiography, which offered his account of his everyday struggle with life in the busy culture of Dublin. The "Superstition" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" star is widely regarded as one of the greatest living artists today. She was born with a rare condition called Aniridia that is characterized by abnormal development of the iris. 100 Would I Rather Questions For Kids Its Time To Have Some Fun! Also, we welcome suggestions for enhancing / growing this list. As a motivational speaker, actor, writer, and father of four, he has already accomplished at a young age more than many achieve in a lifetime. In 2006, he made the first somersault in wheelchair history. At the age of 14, a car accident injured Teals back so severely she lost the ability to use her legs. With the support of his family, he managed to graduate from Griffith University and found Life Without Limbs, an international ministry serving those who are missing one or more limbs. When he realized he might not survive to earn his Ph.D., he devoted himself to his work. She was the first deadblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts. Intellectual disability is a medical condition, and parents and caregivers need support from the community. Rick was diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy and the doctors were blunt. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. He passed away at the age of 73 but not before he made a serious impact helping launch the mobility movement. In 1995 he was competing in an equestrian event and was thrown from his horse, landing on his head. At fifteen his first book Dam-Burst of Dreams was accepted for publication. The teachers also described him as a dreamer and unsociable kid. This success served as the bridge for him towards his success. Hawking is an inspiration to those with physical disabilities and considered to be one of the most important persons who overcame their disability. Russel Crowe portrayed Nashs role and Ron Howard brilliantly directed this gem-of-a-movie. -webkit-column-fill: balance; box-shadow: 1px 1px 1px 1px #ccc; Disability: cerebral palsy and near total paralysis. In 2012, he won a Pride of Britain award in the Teenager of Courage category. At the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Although he has an intellectual disability, because he believed in himself, a turnaround in his life occurred. Commonly known as the Greatest, Ali was one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Her work has been studied by art students around the world and she was the first Mexican artist to have work displayed in the Louvre. Dinklage is best known for his portrayal of Lord Tyrion Lannister on the HBO television series Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2019. . She learned playing wheelchair tennis during her rehabilitation and turned pro in 1995. Around 10 percent of the total world's population, or roughly 650 million people, live with a disability according to Disability Statistics' annual report. All rights reserved. Helen Keller went on to become the first graduate with deaf-blindness in the world. Mozart was an accomplished musician from the age of five and exhibited much of the narrow focus often found in autistic individuals. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright Inspiring Life | Dream Big My Friend 2022. Stevie Wonder is also included in the list of great peoples with major disabilities. Due to those concerns, there was a point when his teachers even considered Einstein as mentally deficient. When it comes to people who have disabilities, public attitudes can crush self-determination and confidence. He was an expert in 15 subject-areas. She was bullied growing up, using her vivid imagination to escape the abuse, and what started as a coping method eventually became the impetus for an incredible career. When she was a teen she was involved in a near-fatal bus accident that only aggravated her spinal issues and led to severe pain for the rest of her life. Beethoven found success at a young age, giving his first public performance at the age of 8. He became known as a great thinker and a super intelligent scientist. He plays the violin while seated and critics say there is something so transcending about the emotions Itzhak is able to communicate through playing of his music. You may be more successful than you think. At thirteen months, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy resulting from the encephalitis and consequently her control over her entire body, except for her face and digestive system, was severely impaired. .linkCol, .linkGroup { She is also a published writer, having shared her own stories on a variety of platforms. Born in 1982, Nick was bullied as a child, which led to a deep depression and thoughts of suicide. Here are 30 simply amazing stories of famous people with disabilities. She took the country by storm when she debuted in Bollywood, in the big box-office hit, Barfi with her gorgeous body and killer looks. 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