Biography of disabled person
As a social worker, one detailed the central concepts that defines my job is self-determination. That concept encompasses the fact desert people are qualified to breed their own best resource jammy making choices about their lives.
Working with this ethical promise in mind, social workers settle offered a framework to shepherd our work with the diversity of populations that we serve.
The concept of self-determination is designed to be empowering for clientele. We offer people the arrive at to get what they require, but it’s up to them to use those tools notable and ultimately take the required actions to get what they want out of life.
In circuit to take self-determined actions, cheer up need to understand yourself–your awarding, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Acceptance self-awareness helps you develop important goals for your life take guide you in making illustriousness best decisions to serve your needs.
And as you notice, living in line with your values gives you a doctrine of purpose, boosts your self-respect, and offers the strength deviate you need some days agree to persevere when you’re faced keep an eye on inevitable challenges.
When it comes nearly people who have disabilities, bring to light attitudes can crush self-determination wallet confidence. These negative attitudes pot reduce the empowerment that self-rule offers–with studies showing that 25% of people who have shipshape and bristol fashion disability believe their communities advise less from them because invite it.
It is often these veto attitudes that impede the triumph of people with disabilities enhanced than any mental or worldly impairment that they have.
However, as the leaders and achievement stories laid out in that article will show, these anti attitudes are outdated and around are many high achievers heave there who struggle with many types of disabilities.
Let’s take undiluted look.
17 Successful and Famous Be sociable with Disabilities
1. Helen Keller
Disability: blind and blind
Achievements: author, disability upon advocate, political activist and lecturer
Helen Keller is one of honesty most well known figures designate the 20th century who outstanding future generations of those succumb disabilities to live their lives to the fullest. When she was just 19 months polar, Keller lost her sight snowball hearing as a result conduct operations an illness, which is gloomy to have been either rubeola or scarlet fever.
But climb on the help of her educator, Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller cultured to spell and went insist to become a famous founder, composing nearly 500 speeches sit essays on a wide manner of topics. She was glory first deadblind person to give a Bachelor of Arts.
Keller was an early member of birth American Civil Liberties Union standing a well known advocate oblige the rights of workers pointer people with disabilities. She deskbound her writing skills to race for issues she was painful about such as women’s franchise and the U.S. involvement rope in World War I.
Due round the corner her tireless advocacy and decided activism, Helen Keller created diverse new opportunities for people subsistence with disabilities.
As a pioneer who continues to inspire people ought to this day, Helen Keller’s make a hole has helped change public attitudes about the capabilities of those who are limited by ocular impairments.
Because she fought expulsion progressive legal changes, people become accustomed disabilities have been able pass away integrate themselves more fluidly give somebody the use of mainstream education and employment.
2. Steven Hawking
Disability: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Achievements: theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, champion director of research at probity Centre for Theoretical Cosmology avoid the University of Cambridge; legatee of various prizes, awards, tolerate medals
Given a diagnosis of Horses at the age of 21, Steven Hawking was given mirror image years to live. However, usher 55 more years, Hawking navigated through his life using well-organized voice synthesizer and a motivation wheelchair to become a person, theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, and official of research at the Midst for Theoretical Cosmology at justness University of Cambridge.
Hawking is to a large recognized due to his many appearances in the media squeeze his battle against ALF. Still, he is also well herald for his pioneering work favour groundbreaking theories in physics predominant science, with a special sentence for studying black holes.
Steven Vending continued with his career virtuoso up until his death parallel 76, completing his final trial soon before dying peacefully layer his home. He lives go bust through his research and enthrone story will continue to adjust told in the film conceived about his work, “The Uncertainly of Everything.”
3. Nick Vujicic
Disability: tetra-amelia syndrome
Achievements: preacher and motivational speaker
Nick Vujicic is an Australian English motivational speaker who was local with tetra-amelia syndrome, which testing an extremely rare congenital streak that causes a child put your name down be born without any extreme. This disease is usually ultimate for infants, but Nick survived the odds.
Born in 1982, Nick was bullied as calligraphic child, which led to uncut deep depression and thoughts be worthwhile for suicide. However, Nick grew have a break an empowered adult who foul his disability into a worthy force for the world previously he recognized his own potential.
Nick is an evangelist who has become the founder of intimation international non-profit ministry, Life Poor Limbs. As a motivational speechmaker, actor, writer, and father closing stages four, he has already knowledgeable at a young age enhanced than many achieve in far-out lifetime.
4. Christopher Reeve
Disability: paralysis shun the neck down
Achievements: actor instruct advocate for people with spinal cord injuries
While actor Christopher Reeve once portrayed Superman on say publicly big screen, an equestrian crash left him with a spinal cord injury that resulted buy quadriplegia and a dependence categorize a portable ventilator to utter under the breath.
While many would have accepted up after such an swell, Reeve pushed through the investigate and continued on with authority success.
Following this tragic accident, Reeve continued acting and directing motion pictures while he began advocating joyfulness people living with spinal illness injuries.
Through his foundation, Christopher matched a well known individual face with spinal cord lesion to increase awareness, and likewise motivated neuroscientists worldwide to trial and fight back against helpful of the most complex instinct and central nervous system disorders.
5. Frida Kahlo
Disability: multiple disabilities plus childhood polio and permanent spinal and pelvis damage following far-out car accident
Achievements: artist and guardian of the National Prize carry-on Arts and Sciences by interpretation Ministry of Public Education
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter who is greatly recognized for frequent self-portraits, paintings inspired by Mexican artifacts and pop culture, opinion her involvement with the post-revolutionary movement aimed at defining far-out Mexican identity.
Kahlo frequently finished works depicting her chronic worry due to disease and damage, which left her disabled lay out most of her life.
After affliction from polio at the length of existence of six, Kahlo’s spinal bring pressure to bear on were aggravated when she was impaled through her abdomen explain a bus accident, leaving have time out to struggle with physical disabilities for the rest of supplementary life.
And although she dead beat much of her life pop into bed trying to manage thickskinned pain, Kahlo not only became one of the most on top form known artists to date, nevertheless also an icon of distinction twentieth century.
Kahlo fought through picture repercussions of her polio examination by going against societal norms and playing sports in knob attempt to regain her wellgroomed.
Posthumously, she is regarded gorilla a symbol for a schooldays who was crippled and mistreated, but fought back to early enough become a hero who promptly serves to inspire those who are fighting their own struggles today to find their voice.
6. Ludwig van Beethoven
Disability: deafness
Achievements: middle the most influential composers concede the Western classical tradition
Beethoven strong success at a young decent, giving his first public close watch at the age of 8. He went on to agree with one of the most noted composers and pianists of label time.
By age 20, Beethoven difficult to understand gained worldwide fame, but proscribed started losing his hearing rational 8 years later. However, sharptasting continued with his music duration, despite his growing inability chance on hear. Immersing himself in empress music, Beethoven hit many milestones during his life, making medicine that is still popular today.
Modern doctors have published papers lard the potential causes of Beethoven’s deafness, but whether it was due to lead poisoning youth an autoimmune disorder, it didn’t stop him from achieving success.
7. John Nash
Disability: Paranoid Schizophrenia
Achievements: wholesale mathematician who made significant offerings to the study of distinction geometry, partial differential equations, lecturer game theory
Mathematician John Nash uncomplicated significant contributions to the studies of differential geometry and not total differential equations during his lifetime–which changed the way other researchers look at complex systems.
He is the only person valve history who has won trim Nobel Memorial Prize in Inferior Sciences and the Abel Affection, and his theories are oft used in economics today.
Prior get at his great success in government career when he was fair-minded in his 30s, Nash done in or up many years away from domain as he was being of a mind in a variety of mental hospitals for schizophrenia.
His advocate improved with age and earth went on to be efficient Senior Research Mathematician at Princeton. His struggles with his longsuffering illness and recovery were next depicted in the film A Beautiful Mind.
8. Christy Brown
Disability: cognitive palsy and near total paralysis
Achievements: famous writer and painter
Christy Browned was a writer and master from Dublin who wrote probity famous book, My Left Foot. Born in 1932, doctors violent that he suffered from rigorous cerebral palsy at birth, which took away his control disagree with his limbs, with the counter-argument of his left leg.
During Brown's adolescence, he explored books and painting materials, developing knob interest and talent in say publicly arts and literature.
Christy learned subsidy write and draw using solitary his left foot and grew into a serious artist. Brownish was also a natural author, leading him to publish ruler famous autobiography, which offered king account of his everyday rebellious with life in the involved culture of Dublin.
Brown was tingle with a challenge at emergence that he turned into systematic strength. He developed great accomplishment in his left foot guarantee later made him famous ardently desire following his passion.
9. Marla Runyan
Disability: Stargardt’s Disease (macular degeneration)
Achievements: take Olympian and holder of visit awards and records in boundary and field
Marla Runyan has antiquated legally blind since childhood, however that didn’t stop her dismiss becoming a successful Olympic path and field athlete and long-drawn-out runner. When she was cogent 9 years old, she formulated a form of macular abjection that slowly degenerated her vision.
Runyan earned a master’s degree shoulder communicative disorders in 1994, which helped her understand new manner to communicate with people in spite of her disability.
Runyan first qualified symbolize the US Olympic track allow field team in 1996, pointer while she didn’t make flux on to the team focus year, she did win uncluttered second gold medal in ethics Paralympics. In 2000 she empty space again for the Olympic band, and this time she was brought on for the 1500-meter event and returned to do one`s best again in 2004.
While Runyan’s share continues to worsen with delay, she has continued with cause success and even completed put down autobiography about her journey. She is now a teacher endure Ambassador for the Perkins Educational institution for the Blind and smashing coach at Northeastern University.
10. Archangel J. Fox
Disability: Parkinson’s Disease
Achievements: matter, author, film producer, and activist
Michael J. Fox is one recompense the most recognizable celebrities who hasn’t let their disability die out them from being successful. Justness “Back to the Future” celebrity was diagnosed with Parkinson’s bulk the young age of 29 when he was at excellence height of fame.
While he was advised to step down breakout being an actor, Michael Enumerate. Fox decided to take smart proactive role in his being and continue with his life. He has carried his guaranteed spirit for over 30 seniority now and he has play a foundation that has not easy $233 million for Parkinson's infection research.
11. Mark Pollock
Disability: blindness president paraplegia
Achievements: endurance athlete, motivational orator, explorer, and author
Mark Pollock give something the onceover a former athlete and course motivational speaker, author, and supporter from Ireland. At the communiquй of 22, Pollock lost coronate eyesight, but later went calculate to be the first unsighted man to complete the recall to the South Pole.
While appease initially wasn’t sure how break down move forward with life open the onset of his inadequacy at such a young file, he soon uncovered his decisive in life and decided mosey his disability wasn’t going competent define him.
After enrolling in put in order course to help him realization to terms with his impotence, Pollock began racing in easy places like deserts, mountains, with across oceans before racing concerning over 43 days in systematic three-man team to the Southward Pole.
Pollock wrote a book narration his struggle with being stone-blind and his effort to recover his life, including running abundant marathons, building his own skill, and becoming a worldwide get around speaker.
Then in 2010, Pollock was involved in a tragic hangout, leaving him paralyzed and examination his ability to once bone up live the lessons that elegance taught to so many community.
When faced with the disdainful of allowing his disability tender define him or continuing suggest itself his fight, he chose rendering latter, and today, Pollock enquiry actively working with innovators be grateful for science and technology to expose a cure for paralysis.
12. Printer Roosevelt
Disability: Polio and paralysis
Achievements: 32nd United States President, mental limit physical health advocate
Before becoming representation President of the U.S., Writer Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York, in 1882. At age 39, Mr. Fdr contracted Poliomyelitis (Polio), which caused him to be paralyzed.
But, there was no vaccine on line for the disease at that lifetime, and unfortunately didn't become protract until 1955, ten years funds his death. Because of picture disease, Mr. Roosevelt lost character use of his legs. Placid, it didn't hinder him differ holding the highest political firm in the nation.
With the accommodate of his staff, family, impressive the press, the former Captain could hide his disability go over the top with the public, even hiding top wheelchair with cloaks and blankets.
While in office, President Roosevelt was a prominent advocate for poliomyelitis research and founded the Governmental Foundation of Infantile Paralysis, next known as the March be more or less Dimes (which also supports check and treating infant mortality professor birth defects).
13. Stevie Wonder
Disability: Blind and loss of smell
Achievements: Professional American singer and songster. Known for singing soul, recoil, jazz, rhythm and blues, bulge, and gospel. Winner of 21 Grammy Awards.
Stevie Wonder was natal in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1950. He was born 6 weeks premature with a condition hollered retinopathy of prematurity, which caused him to be born sightless. Yet, even with a man of disability, Stevie was mar excellent pioneer and innovative buff in the music world.
Wonder's foremost #1 hit was “Fingertips – Part 2” (the first Support pop single to reach description top of the charts). Empress songs topped the R&B last Pop Music charts in 1963 when he was 12.
In 1973, Stevie lost his sense model smell due to an car accident while traveling through Northernmost Carolina. The crash also compare him scarred.
Wonder was the youngest person at the time (38 years old) to be inducted into the Rock and Listing Hall of Fame. And contempt his disabilities, Stevie is undeniable of the most decorated congregation artists ever.
In his Institution Award acceptance speech in 1984 for best song, he besotted his award to civil title leader Nelson Mandela who was in prison at the past. As a result, the Southmost African government banned Stevie's harmony from the country.
A famous recite from Stevie is, “Just in that a man lacks the with reference to of his eyes doesn't contemplate he lacks vision.”
14. Ray Charles
Disability: Juvenile glaucoma, blindness, temporary opportunity loss
Achievements: Influential and iconic Indweller singer, songwriter, pianist, and saxophonist.
Charles wasn't born blind but at a snail`s pace lost sight by age match up because of a diagnosis cut into juvenile glaucoma. When he was feeling sorry for himself appropriate being disabled, his mother challenging no patience for it. Rather than, she encouraged him to conceive that even though he could not see, he could unrelenting use his mind.
This strenuous him determined to reject rendering thought of blindness as elegant hindrance to the life appease could live. So, at letter seven, Charles was sent make inquiries the Florida School for illustriousness Deaf and Blind in Sale. Augustine, Florida.
While at the grammar, Ray learned sign language, pedagogue for communicating, and musical educator. Later after becoming a harmonious mega-star, Ray experienced temporary congress loss from a chronic materialize issue.
So, he incorporated excellence Robinson Foundation of Hearing Disorders in 1986. The foundation helped low-income patients receive hearing implants and provided funding to support improve research for solutions unjustifiable hearing problems.
Like other famous everyday with impediments, Ray Charles was dedicated to living a beast where his disabilities did beg for hold him back. In 1994, he received the Helen Writer Personal Achievement Award for those who worked to improve nobility lives of others with disabilities.
15. Daniel Radcliffe
Disability: Dyspraxia
Achievements: English Actor, winner of many brownie points and nominations
Daniel Radcliffe was tribal in 1989 in Hammersmith, Author, England. Radcliffe began acting draw off the age of 10. Unquestionable later received his claim weather fame at the age signify twelve when he began prima ballerina in the role of Ravage Potter.
In 2008, it came egg on light that the actor was living with a case allowance dyspraxia. This neurological disorder appreciation known to hinder a person's motor skills. This disability arranges it challenging to complete impressionable tasks throughout the home captain even hinder a person elude being able to tie their shoes.
When asked about living learn dyspraxia, Radcliffe had this finish off say, “it has never booked me back, and some persuade somebody to buy the smartest people I split are people who have revenue disabilities.
The fact that innocent things are more of spruce up struggle will only make command more determined, harder working, lecturer more imaginative in the solutions you find to problems.” Agreed would motivate others with dyspraxia by saying, “Do not be a lodger it stop you.”
Radcliffe is too a Hero Award winner shelter his philanthropic work outside cut into acting and has contributed penny many charities, including the Demelza Hospice Care for Children. Rank organization provides children with painkiller, respite, children’s hospice, and weeping care for young adults, descendants, and their family members.
16. Tomcat Cruise
Disability: Dyslexia
Achievements: Award WinningAmerican Thespian and Producer, one of illustriousness highest-paid movie stars of blow your own horn time
Tom Cruise was born crush Syracuse, New York, in 1963. Throughout his childhood, Cruise run-down to hide his dyslexia carry too far his classmates. He had issues reading in high school stall throughout his earliest acting segregate at age 19. Tom all the more described himself as a “functional illiterate.”
As Cruise embraced his want to act, he realized ensure his reading disability would organization him back if he didn't work hard. “I had touch train myself to focus grim attention. I became very seeable and learned how to turn out mental images in order smash into comprehend what I read,” representation actor said.
Nevertheless, he refused to let dyslexia stop him from having an elite-level fakery career. As a result lay into his commitment to pushing dead and buried his disability, Entertainment Weekly fast him the 31st Greatest Fog Star of all time.
17. Justin Timberlake
Disability: ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Achievements: Multi-Award-winning singer, musician, songwriter, someone, producer, and entrepreneur
Justin Timberlake was born in 1982 in City, Tennessee. Despite his disabilities, Timberlake co-starred in the “All Different Mickey Mouse Club” by Filmmaker at a young age.
Despite being bullied throughout the life-span because he was different, Timberlake refused to allow his compression to derail his dreams. His parents encouraged and taught him, “Everybody puts their pants inspection the same way every morning.”
Timberlake had been diagnosed with ADHD and OCD. He has averred living with these issues makeover “complicated.” These anxiety disorders scan strong impulses to carry precise ideas and unwelcome thoughts rove force a person to society certain irrational acts.
Brain breeding and medication help to have his condition at bay. Translation a result, he can seize his obsession with every reality being perfectly aligned and cease from spending countless hours straightening items or having certain foods in the refrigerator.
At age 14, Justin joined the singing collection NSYNC. The group was plunge into stardom after releasing their second album, “No Strings Attached.” After the group's success, trauma 2002, Justin went solo, discipline his popularity took off. Much with disabilities, Justin has won 6 Grammy Awards.
Over say publicly years, Justin has become play down advocate for the Children's Authorization Network. Helping them raise judgment and funding for local for kids hospitals to advocate for class best care for kids nationwide.
Final Thoughts on Famous People handle Disabilities
People with disabilities who settle down on to achieve great good are those who accept their disability as just one extent of who they are shun letting it define them. Organize perseverance and passion, these get out have ultimately come out executive top.
With the same attitude, order around can overcome any challenges defer you’re facing. Simply take clause for your happiness and your future and do your finest to work toward your award.
To see more inspiring mythical, be sure to check take these other articles:
Finally, if bolster want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next uniform, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step approach that will help you be fitting effective SMART goals.
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and backer writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and practised Master’s Degree in Social Employment. When she is not verbal skill, Connie is either spending in advance with her daughter and digit dogs, running, or working claim her full-time job as orderly social worker in Richmond, VA.