Disabilities have tried to throw these four people’s dreams out of the window, but that did not stop them. These are some of the most influential people America has seen. These people would not let disabilities stop them on their road to success. Their disabilities tried to leave them powerless, and they wouldn’t let that happen. Do you think you could impact America in a big way with a disability like these people had?
1
Helen Keller
After being diagnosed deaf and blind, Helen Keller was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She taught herself how to read by putting water in her hand and having people make the letter in the water. Is this something you could do if you were deaf AND blind? Helen never stopped fighting to further her education even though her disabilities tried to hold her back. She broke through the barrier of her disabilities and accomplished something no one had done before. Would you be able to earn the education she did while being deaf and blind?
14
2
Stephen Hawking
Hawking’s was diagnosed with ALS shortly after turning 21. This disease affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. With this disease, research says that you shouldn’t live more than 5 years with it. Stephen has given some of the greatest theories about space that we have seen yet. Even though he was diagnosed with ALS, he still fights it today at the age of 70. He has won the Albert Einstein award as well as the Pius XI gold medal for science. This disease tried to leave him powerless, but Hawking didn’t let it stop him. He has become one of the smartest human beings in today’s world. According to Hawking’s website, he studied at the University of Cambridge to do research on Cosmology. Remember, this is all with his ALS disease. The amount of motivation and power that Hawking brought back to himself after being diagnosed is unbelievable.
The Power In Everyone
Anthony Rasmussen
Photography By
Gauntt, Hilary
Photography By
Molly Brown