Hey there, boys and girls! There are people with disabilities all around us who inspire us to be great. Some are famous, while others may be less well-known. What is true is that people with disabilities are also amazingly cool. Read on to learn about some famous people with disabilities. Their names are included on Kaleb’s list in the book, The Amazing Kids in My Neighborhood.
Aaron Fotheringham
Aaron Fotheringham is on Kaleb’s list of amazing people with disabilities. He is an accomplished athlete who performs super cool stunts using his wheelchair. He was born with a condition called spina bifida, which caused him to not be able to use his legs. Before he started using a wheelchair, Aaron learned to get around with walkers and crutches. Aaron is the first person to do a backflip and a double backflip while using a wheelchair. He also does 180-degree aerials, rail grinds, and one-wheeled spins. Aaron has won a lot of world titles, and he works hard to help kids with disabilities feel special. He gives motivational talks, and guess what? Aaron also teaches kids with disabilities how to do cool tricks with their wheelchairs. That’s awesome! Aaron uses a wheelchair to get around like Jada in the story “The Amazing Kids in My Neighborhood”.
To learn more about Aaron Fotheringham, watch the video below.
Andrea Bocelli
Also featured on Kaleb’s list is Andrea Bocelli. Andrea is a singer who was born in Italy. He has an amazing tenor voice! Andrea was born with a vision problem, and at age 12, he lost all of his sight. He loved music from his childhood, and he worked hard and followed his dreams. Andrea is now a well-known vocalist and musician who plays more than one instrument. Andrea performs in front of large crowds all over the world. He has won a lot of awards, and he also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Andrea is much like Ping in the story .
To learn more about Andrea Bocelli, watch the video below.
Ángela Bachiller
Angela Bachiller is a political leader in Spain who was born with Down syndrome. She was elected to the Valladolid, Spain, city council in 2013 and became a member of the People’s Party. Angela is the first person with Down syndrome to serve as a city councilor in Spain. She is a role model for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Angela speaks up for people with disabilities in her country and works hard to make sure they have a good quality of life. Angela has Down syndrome, like Aaron in the story.
To learn more about Angela, watch the video below.
Blake Leeper
Blake Leeper is an American athlete who competes in the Paralympics. He was born with both legs missing below the knees, and he started wearing prosthetics at the age of nine months. Blake has won many medals at the Paralympics, and he is a 3-time American record holder and 1-time international record holder in running. He is an inspiration for children with disabilities, especially those who are missing limbs. Blake wears running blades like Pete.
To learn more about Blake Leeper, watch the video below.
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah is a famous actress who was born in the US city of Chicago. She was diagnosed with autism when she was a child. When Daryl was young, she was very shy and didn’t like being at public events. She learned to manage these feelings and she has since appeared in more than 90 movies. Daryl likes to help bring about good changes in the world. She is an actress, but she also works to improve society and protect the environment. Daryl has autism like Jada in the story .
Floyd Emerson Morris
Floyd Emerson Morris is a former Jamaican politician who was born in Port Maria, Jamaica. He started going blind at age 14 because of glaucoma, and he was completely blind by age 20. Floyd learned to use Braille, and this supported his efforts to learn. He tried his best, and he never gave up. Floyd went to college and got degrees, which included a PhD from the University of the West Indies. He was appointed to the Jamaican Senate in 1998 and was the first blind person to do so. Floyd was also a minister of state and the president of the Jamaican Senate. He works hard to help people with disabilities get the rights they deserve. Like Ping in the story, Floyd is also blind.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is an environmentalist and an autism activist from Sweden. She has given important speeches to world leaders at the United Nations, asking them to do more about climate change. Since she started her activism, Greta has helped a lot of people care more about the environment. She has gotten a lot of support from people all over the world. Greta’s hard work has earned her many honors and awards. She was also nominated for the Noble Peace Prize three times. Greta has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, selective mutism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Greta has autism like Jada in the story “The Amazing Kids in My Neighborhood”.
To learn more about Greta Thunberg, watch the video below.
Haben Girma
Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer who focuses on the rights of people with disabilities. She is the first person who is both deaf and blind to finish Harvard Law School. Haben’s parents came from Eritrea and Ethiopia, which are both in Africa, but she was born in California, which is in the United States. Haben lost her sight and hearing ability due to an unknown condition at an early age. She has received a lot of recognition and has been invited to speak for disabled people on a number of international stages. Haben is blind like Ping in the story, and guess what? Like Marianna, Haben is also deaf.
To learn more about Haben Girma, watch the video below.
Jessica Cox
Image Credit: jessicacox.com
Jessica Cox is a motivational speaker and a trained pilot who was born in the U.S. state of Arizona. She was born without arms, so she does everything with her feet. Jessica is the first pilot in aviation history to not have arms. She has a black belt in taekwondo from the American Taekwondo Association, and she is also a certified scuba diver. Jessica travels the world, giving inspiring talks to many people. She loves to remind people that “disability is not an inability.” Jessica was born without arms like Eta.
To learn more about Jessica Cox, watch the video below.
Judith Scott
Judith Scott was a sculptor from Columbus, Ohio, USA, who worked with fibers. She was born in 1943, and she had Down syndrome. Judith was also deaf, and she was institutionalized in her childhood because of her disability. She became a famous artist who made works of art by wrapping yarn, twine, and pieces of cloth around everyday things like plastic tubes, keys, and shopping carts. Judith’s art has been shown in many places. Judith Scott died of natural causes in 2005. Judith had Down syndrome like Aaron, and like Marianna, she was also deaf.
To learn more about Judith Scott, watch the video below.
Kyle Maynard
Kyle Maynard was born in Washington, D.C. in the United States. He was born with short arms and legs. Kyle has done great things despite having a disability. He was the first person with four missing limbs to bearcrawl to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet) in Africa and to the top of Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua (22,838 feet). These mountains are among the highest in the world. Kyle is also a best-selling author, a motivational speaker, an athlete, a humanitarian, a fitness coach, and a businessman. He shares his story with people all over the world to encourage them to be great. Kyle is kind of like Eta in the story, as he too was born without arms.
To learn more about Kyle Maynard , watch the video below.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin was born in Chicago, Illinois , USA. She lost her hearing when she was 18 months old. Marlee learned to use sign language and this helps her communicate. Sometimes Marlee communicates by voicing words. Marlee started acting when she was 7 years old and is now a well-known actress who works in movies and TV shows. She has won many awards and recognition. In fact, Marlee was the first deaf actress to win an academy award and the youngest person to receive an Oscar in the Best Actress category. Marlee is also an author and an activist. She supports many charitable causes, which allows her to help improve the lives of others. Marlee uses sign language to communicate, like Marianna in the story.
To learn more about Marlee Matlin, watch the video below.
Marlou van Rhijn
Marlou van Rhijn is a famous sprint runner from the Netherlands. She was born with only the upper half of her legs. In her early days, as an athlete, Marlou was a swimmer, but she left this sport and took up athletics. Marlou wears prosthetics when she runs in sprint races. Marlou holds the world record in disability athletics for the 100-meter race. She has won many gold, silver, and bronze medals in athletic competitions. She is an inspiration for people with disabilities. Like Pete in the story, Marlou also wears running blades.
To learn more about Marlou van Rhijn, watch the video below.
Micah Fowler
Micah Fowler is a well-known actor who was born in the U.S. state of New Jersey. He has cerebral palsy, a condition that makes it hard to move and stand up straight. In the TV show “Speechless,” Micah plays a person who had the same disease and couldn’t talk. Micah does a great job with the role, and he has many fans. Micah is a representative for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, which works to improve the lives of people with this condition. He is an inspiration for people with disabilities. Like Jada in the story, Micah uses a wheelchair to get around.
To learn more about Micah Fowler, watch the video below.
Nyle DiMarco
Nyle DiMarco was born in the United States, in the city of Queens, New York. Nyle is a model, actor, producer, and writer who also works to help people with disabilities. He started a foundation to support bilingual education and make it easier for people to access and understand the truth about learning a language as a child. Nyle talks to audiences all over the world to encourage inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities. He went to Gallaudet University and got a degree there. Nyle was the first Deaf contestant to win “America’s Next Top Model.” He was also the first Deaf contestant to win the Mirror Ball Trophy on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Nyle is a good example for people who are deaf and for all people who have disabilities. He was born without hearing, but that didn’t stop him from achieving great things. Nyle is a dancer like Marianna, and guess what? He also uses sign language to communicate.
To learn more about Nyle DiMarco, watch the video below.
Pablo Pineda
Pablo Pineda was born in Málaga, Spain. Pablo was born with Down syndrome. He is the first person with Down syndrome in Europe who has completed a university degree. Pablo became an actor, starring in a film that was based on his life. For his performance in this film, Pablo won a Silver Shell award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. Pablo is also a teacher, a disability activist, and a published author. He is an inspiration for people with Down syndrome and for all people with disabilities. Pablo has Down syndrome like Aaron.
To learn more about Pablo Pineda, watch the video below.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is a musician, singer, and songwriter who plays a variety of instruments. His real name is Stevland Hardsway Morris. He was born in Michigan, which is in the United States. Stevie went blind as a baby because of being born prematurely and other problems at birth. As a child, Stevie was very talented with music. He was so good at music that a major record label signed him by the time he was 11 years old. Stevie Wonder became one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He also won 25 Grammy awards and an Academy Award for his services in the music industry. He is a legend and an inspiration to people with disabilities. Stevie is much like Ping in the story.
To learn more about Stevie Wonder, watch the video below.
Tobi Green Adenowo
Tobi Green Adenowo was born in London, England. She is a well-known wheelchair dancer and performer. Tobi was born with a disease that causes her bones to break easily. The disease caused Tobi to be confined to a wheelchair. Although she is wheelchair bound, Tobi pursued her dreams of becoming a dancer. Tobi went on to perform on the show Britain’s Got Talent, and she also became a successful dance teacher. Tobi is also a motivational speaker and a TV personality. She is a role model for people who are living with disabilities. Tobi uses a wheelchair to get around, and so does Jada!
Tony DeBlois
Tony DeBlois, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, is a well-known musician. He is both blind, autistic, and a musical savant. Tony went blind when he was a baby. Tony started playing the piano when he was two years old and went on to be a famous musician. He can play about twenty musical instruments and can play around 8,000 songs from memory. Tony has his own band and has played concerts all over the world. Tony is an inspiration to people with disabilities. A film about his life was also made. This film was entitled, “Journey of the Heart.” Tony has autism, like Jada in the story. He is also blind, like Ping.
To learn more about Tony DeBlois, watch the video below.
Tony Meléndez
Tony Meléndez was born in Nicaragua, in the city of Rivas; he was born without arms. After moving with his family to America, Tony got prosthetic arms. He wore them until he was ten years old. Tony stopped using them because he felt he could get more done without them. Tony loved music a lot, and he kept trying to learn how to play instruments with his toes. He became a well-known singer, musician, and songwriter. Tony has traveled the world entertaining people, and he has even performed before many famous people. Over the years, he has gotten much recognition and has won many awards, including four Unity Awards. Tony is also a motivational speaker. He is an inspiration for people with disabilities. In some ways, Tony is similar to Eta.
To learn more about Tony Meléndez, click on the link below.
https://www.tonymelendez.com/biography
Troy Kotsur
Troy Kotsur is an accomplished actor and director. He was raised in Arizona, U.S., and was deaf from birth. Troy developed a love for acting from an early age, and he worked hard to follow this dream. Troy is now a well-known actor. He has appeared in theater productions, movies, and TV shows. Troy is the first male actor who is deaf to win an Oscar. He has won other awards in his career, including a Grammy, a Critics’ Choice Award, and Screen Guild Awards. Troy is an inspiration to people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. He is an inspiration for people with disabilities. Troy uses sign language to communicate like Marianna.
To learn more about Troy Kotsur, watch the video below.
Now that you have met them…make a list with the names of the amazing people in your neighborhood.