Successful People with Disabilities

Published: September 22, 2014

It's very fascinating to learn about those who have become successful in their careers, despite the fact that they have or had a disability. It's quite encouraging to see that so many different things really are possible — with or without setbacks. Below, you will find a list of successful people with disabilities.

The List

1. Helen Keller: An American author, political activist and lecturer who is on the Alabama state quarter, Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to earn a college degree. Her life story has been famously portrayed in several films and books, most notably The Miracle Worker.
2. Frida Kahlo: Injured in a trolley accident when she was a teenager and forced into bed rest for several months to heal a broken back and a back that that would never fully heal 100%, Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, is one of the most well-known artists with disabilities of the 20th century. She also contracted polio when she was six and had a misshapen leg.
3. Stevie Wonder: One of the most beloved singers alive today, Stevie Wonder is a musician who was born blind. He was born 6 weeks early. The blood vessels at the back of his eyes had not yet reached the front and aborted their growth, hence causing his blindness.
4. Stephen Hawking: He is one of the most well-known physicists in the world, and he was able to achieve that in spite of being diagnosed with ALS when he was 21. He can now only speak with the assistance of a computer and has been a fulltime powerchair-user since the 1980s.
5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: FDR was a wheelchair user for his entire time in office. Upon starting his political career in gusto, he contracted polio while drinking water at a campground and became paralyzed from the waist down. However, that obviously did not stop him from anything, as his accomplishments during WWII have earned him the compliment as one of the greatest US presidents of all time.

The Inspiration of Success

Again, it's rather inspiring what some people have gone on to accomplish, despite the fact that they were born with or contracted a disability. It's important to remember that all things are possible — no matter what the circumstances may be!