Celebrating 8 Of The Most Famous People with Disabilities

Many of the most famous, successful and admired people in the world have achieved their status in spite of their disability. These esteemed men and women have demonstrated to the world that a disability needn’t stop you from achieving great things. In this article, we celebrate eight of the most famous people with disabilities.

Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist and one of the most influential scientists who ever lived. His books have sold more than ten million copies and have been translated into dozens of languages around the world. His most notable accomplishments include his revolutionary work into the physics of black holes, which gave the world a deeper understanding in the mysteries of our universe.

To many observers, Professor Hawking’s most impressive feat of all was his ability to accomplish his goals despite suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A degenerative disease, ALS causes people to gradually lose control of their voluntary muscles. Professor Hawking received his diagnosis at just 21 years of age and was given a life expectancy of only two more years, but despite the bleak outlook, Hawking lived until he was 76 and maintained his lust for life and knowledge (plus a slick sense of humour) until his final day.

Michael J Fox

Michael J. Fox is a retired actor best known for his role as Marty Mcfly in the hit sci-fi comedy ‘Back to the Future’. Fox was originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the young age of 29. Parkinson’s is a condition caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain. The illness causes chronic issues such as muscle tremors, muscular rigidity and imprecise movement.

Despite his illness, Michael J. continued acting for a further 19 years following his diagnosis, winning five Primetime Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Grammy award along the way.

Nick Vuljcic

Nick Vuljic was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by the absence of all four limbs. A courageous and inspiring man, Nick not only overcame his own personal struggles but inspired millions of people across the globe to overcome theirs, too. 

Nick became a world-renowned public speaker and New York Times bestselling author. His books have sold over a million copies around the world and teach the lesson of how to embrace all that life has to offer, no matter the cards you may be dealt.

Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve will be remembered as a superman in more ways than one. The American actor became the face of the Superman franchise during the late 70s and 80s with his acclaimed portrayal of the nerdy Clark Kent and his super-strong, super-fast alter ego, Superman. 

In 1995, Christopher Reeve became paralysed from the shoulders down after falling from a horse during an equestrian competition. The incident left him using a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life.

Despite his sudden and severe injury, Christopher Reeve continued to accomplish major goals. From his wheelchair, Reeve directed a television drama ‘In the Gloaming’ and acted in the 1998 remake of ‘Rear Window’. Reeve wrote two autobiographical books — Nothing is Impossible and Still Me — and started The Christopher Reeve Foundation, a charity dedicated to advancing research into spinal cord injuries. 

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo was an artist from Mexico whose body of work most notably included surrealist paintings with autobiographical elements.

At the age of 18, Kahlo was involved in a bus accident that caused her lifelong pain and medical issues. Her trauma, struggles and emotions are reflected candidly in many of her paintings. Imbued with conflict, despair and hope, her ethereal works have gone on to become some of the most famous and acclaimed paintings of the 20th Century.

Ralph Braun

Much of the mobility assistance equipment used in vehicles across the world can be traced back to Ralph Braun. Despite being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, it was perhaps no surprise that Braun would go on to become an inventor. By the age of 15, nine years after his diagnosis, Braun had created a motorised wagon with his father to help him get around.

Braun would go on to become the founder and CEO of the Braun Corporation, whose seminal inventions included the world’s first wheelchair-accessible vehicle. 

Tanni Grey-Thompson

It’s not every day you hear of an Olympic athlete becoming a politician, but that’s exactly the path that Tanni Grey-Thompson took following her spina bifida diagnosis at age seven. Confined to a wheelchair, Thompson continued to stay active by pursuing her passion for sports. She competed in various events at the Paralympic games, including wheelchair racing, in which she won a gold medal in both the 100m and 400m events. In total, Grey-Thompson won 16 medals throughout her decorated career, including 13 world championship medals.

Following her retirement, Grey-Thompson became a life peer in the House of Lords. She was also awarded with an MBE and a BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.

Esther Vergeer

Esther Vergeer is a retired Dutch wheelchair tennis player and was the world number one wheelchair tennis player from 1999 to her retirement in 2013. After becoming paralysed from the waist down in 1990 following spinal surgery, Vergeer discovered her passion for tennis. 

Vergeer is often mentioned not only as the most dominant wheelchair tennis player but the most dominant athlete in professional sports. Her decorated career includes a staggering forty-eight Grand Slam tournament victories, twenty-three year-end championship wins and seven Paralympic titles. In singles matches, Vergeer ended her career on a winning streak of 476, remaining unbeaten from 2003 until her retirement in 2013.

 

All of these extraordinary men and women are inspirations to us and many disabled people around the world. At Ideas in Action, we’re passionate about helping other people with disabilities realise their true potential. That’s why we provide mobility scooters, stairlifts, powered wheelchairs and other assistive equipment made to make lives easier. 

It’s time to test your limits. Purchase the latest mobility equipment from Ideas in Action and experience a range of modern features. We offer a wide selection of products made for people of all needs, so you’re guaranteed to find something that suits your lifestyle. 

 

Take a look at our products at our Birmingham showroom in the West Midlands. For any more information, contact our team.