Defying Expectations: 10 Famous People With Disability

“There is no such thing as a disability, and we say diffability, because we know you are all different, and possess different abilities.”

– Troian Anderson, The Light of Winter

Disability knows no gender, caste, creed, or race. It does not make any discrimination. People from any corner of the earth can get afflicted with a disability at any time in their lives. Actually, the disabled community is the largest minority group in the world.

We often treat people with disability as someone lacking something, just because they do not have access to all the usual faculties that we have. This does not make them any less than we are. Just because they do not have the same abilities that we have does not mean that they are not capable. They are simply differently abled. At times, they may even be more capable or talented.

You would be surprised to know that some of your icons actually have one disability or another. This is natural as the mainstream media have very little representation of the disability community.  However, with the recent growth of social media and the fad for inclusivity, achievers with disability are beginning to get the recognition that they deserve.

Let us take a look at some legendary achievers from different arenas of life who happened to have a disability.

Thomas Edison

Disability: Deaf

Thomas Alva Edison is the American inventor and businessman we should all be thankful to for developing devices in the fields of electric power generation, motion pictures, sound recording, and mass communication. The talented inventor was only 12 years old when he lost his hearing after being afflicted by Scarlett Fever and a number of untreated middle ear infections. He did not let this come in the way of his subsequent achievements in the field of technology.

Stephen Hawking

Disability: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Stephen Hawking is one of the most recognizable scientists of our era. The talented theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, and cosmologist was diagnosed with ALS when he was 21 years of age. He was given only two more years to live at the most. He defied all expectations and lived on till his seventies making outstanding contributions to the world of science. He used a voice synthesizer to communicate and a wheelchair that was operated through the movements of his eyes and head. Hawkings worked hard and made science accessible to the most ordinary of people. His life story was adapted into the film, The Theory of Everything. The movie presented his inspirational life to a worldwide audience.

Helen Keller

Disability: Deaf and Blind

Helen Keller is perhaps one of the most famous people with disability. She was only 19 months old when she lost her sight and hearing due to an unknown illness. The arrival of Anne Sullivan changed her life forever. With the help of Anne, her beloved teacher, she learned to express herself. Keller went on to be the first deaf-blind graduate in the world. She traversed the world and advocated for labor and women’s rights, among many other relevant issues. There is a lot to learn from her autobiography, The Story of My Life, even today.

Frida Kahlo

Disability: Infantile Paralysis aka Polio Infantile Paralysis aka Polio

Born on July 6, 1907, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is world-famous for her masterful art pieces. Kahlo did not have an easy life. She was only 6 years old when she got afflicted with polio, which made her right leg shorter and thinner than her left one. This was not the end of her travails. In 1925, she got into a terrible accident that worsened her disability. All this did not put a stop to her ambitions. She made full use of her considerable talents and became a cultural icon. Her legacy lives on through her remarkable paintings. Some of my favorite works of hers are My Birth, Memory, the Heart, What the Water Game Me, and The Two Fridas, among many others.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Disability: Infantile Paralysis aka Polio

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is one of the United States of America’s most popular presidents. He served an unprecedented four consecutive terms in office. FDR dedicated his first two terms to combating the Great Depression. The next two terms were focused on America’s involvement in WWII. In 1921, at the age of 39 years old, FDR contracted an illness and was left paralyzed from the waist down. He did not let this stop him from performing his presidential duties. He continued to lead his nation with grit and determination. It was Roosevelt who founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which resulted in the development of polio vaccines.

Christopher Reeve

Disability: Paralysis

Whenever we think of Superman, Christopher Reeve is the first one that comes to mind. Reeve was only 24 years old when he starred in the titular role of the 1978 hit, Superman.His performance as the bumbling Clark Gable and the charismatic superhero was universally acclaimed. He shot to stardom overnight. All this came crashing down when Reeve got into a horrific horse-riding accident on May 27, 1995. His cervical vertebrae were smashed leaving him paralyzed from the neck below. This did not deter him. He became an activist fighting for the rights of the disabled till his death on October 10, 2004.

Stevie Wonder

Disability: Blindness

Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Morris, is a legendary singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was born premature with retinopathy of prematurity. Due to this, his retinas were detached leading to blindness. The living legend did not let this deter him from realizing his musical dreams. He was only 11 years old when he was signed by Motown’s Tamla label. He went on to become the youngest ever artist to have a number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and won an astounding 25 Grammys to date. His songs are timeless and are still immensely popular with people from all generations. His Superstition and Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, among others, are some of my favorite songs.

Lewis Carroll

Disability: Autism

As children, we all have read Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. In fact, the book still calls to our childish souls at times. The world-renowned British author penned many other Children’s classics. However, did you know that he had autism? Due to this, Carroll was deaf in one ear and stammered while talking in social groups. All this did not prevent him from pursuing his passions and becoming a master storyteller and author.

Henry Lawson

Disability: Deafness

Born on June 17, 1867, Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson is popularly hailed as Australia’s greatest short story writer. The Australian writer and bush poet lost his hearing when he was only a teenager. He did not let his deafness stop him from becoming one of Australia’s most renowned authors. His works are classics and still enjoy popularity around the world. Children of the Bush and When I Was King and Other Verses are some of my favorite works of his.

Michael J. Fox

Disability: Parkinson’s Disease

We usually associate Parkinson’s Disease with old age. You would be surprised to know that Michael J. Fox, most popularly known for his role in Back to the Future,  was only 29 years old when he was diagnosed with the disease in 1991. Born on June 9, 1961, Fox worked hard to be a renowned actor, comedian, author, film producer, and activist. He did not let his diagnosis clip his wings. He continues to work doing what he loves doing. He even incorporates aspects of his disability in his comedy acts. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation to promote research toward finding a cure for the disease.

Conclusion

Having a disability is only a part of life. Yes, it is a part of the person’s identity. Yet, it does not define a person. It does not give us the right to treat someone with condensation or ignorance. After all, you never know the true capabilities of a person until you really get to know them.

The people mentioned on this list are only a few among the many outstanding differently-abled personalities who defied all expectations, made a name for themselves, and contributed toward making the world a better place.

Do comment and let me know your thoughts about them.

July 2024 marks a special milestone at The World’s Best Magazine as we proudly declare it the Diversity, Resilience, and Inclusion Month. Throughout the month – as well as in the few weeks immediately before and after it – we dedicate our platform to celebrating the richness of diversity, the strength of resilience, and the power of inclusion.

Join us as we spotlight stories that showcase the myriad facets of diversity, from cultural heritage to individual identities. Through our features, we aim to amplify voices that demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, inspiring others to persevere and thrive.

Moreover, we pledge to champion inclusion in all aspects of our work, ensuring that every story, perspective, and experience is welcomed and valued. By embracing diversity, resilience, and inclusion, we strive to foster a more equitable and compassionate world.

Let’s come together to honor the beauty of our differences, celebrate the triumphs of the human spirit, and reaffirm our commitment to building a society where everyone is seen, heard, and valued.

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