Famous People with Disabilities [a list of 650+]| Ongig Blog

Author
Recent Posts

Heather Barbour Fenty

Heather Barbour Fenty is a writer with a passion for solving sticky HR problems for recruiters and talent acquisition pros. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, she holds degrees in Communications, Business, and Project Management. Combining her love for travel and storytelling with her technical expertise, Heather helps businesses streamline job ad writing and improve recruitment outcomes. When not working, she enjoys boating, diving, and planning new adventures with her family.

Latest posts by Heather Barbour Fenty (see all)

How to Make Sense of Salary Transparency - December 18, 2024
The 2025 (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) DEI Events Calendar You Need - December 16, 2024
10 Helpful Examples of an Internal Job Posting Template (2025) - December 3, 2024

We found 650+ famous people with disabilities during our recent research on neurodiversity. What is an example of a disability? According to Disabled World:

“A disability is often used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic diseases. A disability can be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime.”

Celebrities with Disabilities

This long list of famous people with disabilities includes:

personality disorders (Billie Eilish)
famous people in wheelchairs (Stephen Hawking)
famous people with learning disabilities (Tom Cruise)
celebrities with physical disabilities (Stevie Wonder)
famous people with learning disabilities (Chris Rock)
other successful people with disabilities (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)

Billboard reported that Billie Eilish:

“The 16-year-old singer took to Instagram to set the record straight after compilation videos of her tics began to surface online. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes a person to have involuntary physical or verbal tics. In Eilish’s case, she exhibits physical tics, not verbal.”

Eilish performing at Pukkelpop 2019 (image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Disclaimer: This is a list of successful people with disabilities who have been diagnosed and those who have been reported or rumored to have disabilities. I do my best to list resources at the end of this article and welcome feedback, additions, and edits! I am not an expert on famous disabled persons.

Actors with Disabilities [& other Entertainment Professionals]

There are hundreds of successful entertainment pros and celebrities with disabilities. Do you know any blind actors? Rolling Stone reported in 2017 that Johnny Depp is blind in his left eye.

American actor Johnny Depp signing autographs at the Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End premiere in Anaheim, California. (image source: Wikipedia, alotofmillion)

Woody Allen – Director (Asperger’s)
Alicia Alanzo – Dancer (Visually Impaired)
Dan Aykroyd – Actor (Asperger’s & Tourette Syndrome)
Parveen Babi – Actress (Schizophrenia)
Richard Bacon – Broadcaster (ADHD)
Suzan Ball – Actress (Amputee)
Tanya Bardsley – Actress (ADHD)
Glenn Beck – TV Producer & Radio Host (ADHD)
Chloe Bennett – Actress (ADHD)
Sarah Bernhardt – Actress (Amputee)
Millie Bobby Brown – Actress (Hearing Impaired)
Kelle Bryan – Actress (Lupus)
Corey Burton – Voice Actor (Asperger’s)
Tim Burton – Director (Asperger’s)
Jim Byrnes – Actor (Amputee)
Albie Casiño- Actor (ADHD)
Jim Carrey – Actor (ADHD)
Sudha Chandran – Actress (Amputee)
Charlie Chaplin – Actor (Asperger’s)
Lizzy Clark – Actress (Asperger’s)
Paddy Considine – Actor (Asperger’s)
Eliza Coupe – Actress (ADHD)
Tony Cox – Actor (Dwarfism)
Tom Cruise – Actor (Dyslexia)
Abbey Nicole Curran – Miss USA Contestant (Cerebral Palsy)
Cara Delevigne – Actress & Model (ADHD & Dyspraxia)
Johnny Depp – Actor (Visually Impaired)
Peter Dinklage – Actor (Achondroplasia Dwarfism)

What type of dwarfism does Peter Dinklage have? He was born with achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism. (image source: Gage Skidmore)

Zooey Deschanel – Actress, Model & Musician (ADHD)
Aviva Drescher – TV Personality (Amputee)
Eliza Dushku – Actress (ADHD)
Justin Eugene Evans – Film Director (Asperger’s)
Jose Ferrer – Actor (Cleft)
Helen Flanagan – Actress (ADHD)
Michael J. Fox – Actor (Parkinson’s)
Joseph Gilgun – Actor (ADHD)
Crispin Glover – Actor (Asperger’s)
Sarah Gordy – Actress (Down Syndrome)
Eric Gores – Actor (Cerebral Palsy)
Ryan Gosling – Actor (ADHD)
Robert David Hall – Actor (Amputee)
Filip Hammer – TV Host (ADHD)
Paula Hamilton – Model (Asperger’s)
Daryl Hannah – Actress (Asperger’s)
Brant Hansen – Radio Personality (Asperger’s)
Anne Hegerty – TV Personality (Asperger’s)
Paris Hilton – Actress (ADHD)
Alfred Hitchcock – Film Director (Asperger’s)
Anthony Hopkins – Actor (Asperger’s)
Cheryl-Lee Houston – Actress (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)
Jamie Hyneman – TV Host( Asperger’s)
Luke Jacobz – Actor (ADHD)
Geri Jewell – Actress (Cerebral Palsy)
Sofía Jirau — Model (Victoria’s Secret first model with Down syndrome)
Melissa Johns – Actress (TAR Syndrome)
Erick Kaffka – Actor (Amputee)
Andy Kaufman – Actor (Asperger’s)
Stacy Keach – Actor (Cleft)
Rene Kirby – Actor (Spina Bifida)
Diane Kruger – Actress (ADHD)
Heather Kuzmich – Model (Asperger’s)
Nina Marker – Model (Asperger’s)
Herbert Marshall – Actor (Amputee)
Marlee Matlin – Actress (Hearing Impaired)
Gaten Matarazzo – Actor (Cleidocranial Dysplasia)
Rik Mayall – Actor (Epilepsy)
Jessica McCabe – Actress (ADHD)
Audra McDonald – Actress (ADHD)
Dash Mihok – Actor (Tourette Syndrome)
Heather Mills – Model & Media Personality (Amputee)
RJ Mitte – Actor (Cerebral Palsy)

If you have ever watched the television series Breaking Bad, you may have asked, Is Walter Junior disabled in real life? The answer is yes, RJ Mitte has Cerebral Palsy just like the character he plays on the show.

According to Wikipedia, Mitte’s manager “sought acting opportunities where his disability would serve to educate viewers, which led him to audition for the role in Breaking Bad.”

Marilyn Monroe – Actress (Asperger’s)
John Motson – Sports Commentator (Asperger’s)
Suzanne Muldowney – Performance Artist (Asperger’s)
Chris Niosi – Voice Actor (Asperger’s)
Keith Olberman – Sports Commentator (Asperger’s)
Jamie Oliver – Celebrity Chef (ADHD & Dyspraxia)
Jack Osbourne – Media Personality (ADHD)
Chris Packham – TV Personality (Asperger’s)
Ty Pennington – TV Host (ADHD)
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix – Actor (Cleft)
Casey Pieretti – Actor (Amputee)
Alex Plank – Actor (Asperger’s)
Lele Pons – Internet Celebrity (ADHD)
Meera Popkin – Broadway Star (Schizophrenia)
Daniel Radcliffe – Actor (Dyspraxia)
Christopher Reeve – Actor (Quadraplegic)
Joan Rivers – TV Personality (ADHD)
Chris Rock – Actor (nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD))

Chris Rock is one of the famous people with learning disabilities. (image source: Wikipedia)

In a recent post by Self Magazine, Chris Rock Reveals He’s in Therapy to Help Manage a Nonverbal Learning Disorder. This means Chris Rocks joins famous people with learning disabilities who have gone public.

The article says:

“After a friend suggested Rock might have Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, he went in for nine hours of cognitive testing, he said in the interview. After that Rock was diagnosed with a nonverbal learning disorder (NVLD), which affects his ability to read nonverbal social cues.”

Harold Russell – Actor & War Veteran (Amputee)
Rose Siggins – Actress (Sacral Agenesis)
Rita Simons – Actress (ADHD)
Will Smith – Actor (ADHD)
James Stacy – Actor (Amputee)
Erik Stolhanske – Actor (Amputee)
Marc Summers – TV Personality (Tourette Syndrome)
Channing Tatum – Actor & Producer (ADHD)
Bex Taylor-Klaus – Actress (ADHD)
Liv Tyler – Actor & Producer (ADHD)
Peter White – Broadcaster (Visually Impaired)
Marco Pierre White – Celebrity Chef (Dyspraxia)
Robin Williams – Actor (ADHD, Asperger’s, Bipolar Disorder, & Parkinson’s)
Rose Williams – Actress (Schizophrenia)
Mara Wilson – Actress (ADHD)
Henry Winkler – Director (Dysgraphia)
Brookley Wofford – Beauty Pageant Queen (ADHD)
Jason Zimmerman – Professional Gamer (ADHD)

Artists with Disabilities

These disabled artists were successful in their creation of masterpieces despite having a disability.

Esref Armagan – Artist (Visually Impaired)
David Bailey – Photographer (Dyspraxia)
Pauline Bewick – Artist (Dyslexia)
Ash Casper – Illustrator (Dyslexia)
Leslie Chavez – Photographer (Dyslexia)
Chuck Close – Artist (Dyslexia)
Rachel Deane – Painter (Dyslexia)
Edgar Degas – Painter (Visually Impaired)
Leonardo da Vinci – Artist & Sculptor (ADHD)
Honoré Daumier – Caricature Artist (Visually Impaired)
Nick Fagan – Fine Artist (Dyslexia)
Francisco Goya – Painter (Visually Impaired)
Gudrun Hasle – Artist (Dyslexia)
Jim Henson – Animator & Puppeteer (Asperger’s)
Chuck Close – Artist (Learning Disability)
Peter Howson – Painter (Asperger’s)
Mel Jarvis – Illustrator (Dyslexia)
Frida Kahlo – Painter (Polio & Spina Bifida)

How did the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo manage her disability? Respectability.org said:

“Throughout her life, Kahlo came face-to-face with her disabilities and turned them into art. She has many paintings depicting her disabilities. She never let her disability prevent her from pursuing her passion.”

Wasily Kandinsky – Painter (Asperger’s)
Dan Keplinger – Artists (Cerebral Palsy)
Paul Kostabi – Artist (Asperger’s)
Percy Wyndham Lewis – Artist & Author (Visually Impaired)
L S Lowry – Artist (Asperger’s)
Charles Rennie Mackintosh – Artist & Designer (Dyslexia)
Michelangelo – Artist (Asperger’s)
Claude Monet – Painter (Visually Impaired)
Pablo Picasso – Artist (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Jackson Pollock – Artist (Dyslexia)
Robert Rauschenberg – Artist (Dyslexia)
Joshua Reynolds – Artist (Visually Impaired)
Auguste Rodin – Artist (Dyslexia)
Patrick Samuel (Asperger’s)
Charles Schulz – Cartoonist (Asperger’s)
Van Smith – Makeup Artist (Spina Bifida)
James Thurber – Cartoonist (Visually Impaired)
Vincent van Gogh – Painter (Asperger’s & ADHD)
Louis Wain – Artist (Cleft)
Andy Warhol – Artist (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)

Famous Athletes with Disabilities

We found 90+ famous athletes with disabilities, this list includes famous people in wheelchairs and amputee athletes. Aaron Wheelz Fotheringham made the list. Known for his extreme wheelchair stunts, Fotheringham was born with Spina Bifida. This video from Nitro Circus shows him doing the first wheelchair frontflip in the world:

Barbara Adside – Equestrian Athlete (Amputee athlete)
Muhammad Ali – Boxer (Dyslexia)
Lionel Aldridge – NFL Player (Schizophrenia)
Sam Allardyce – Soccer Player (Dyslexia)
Ann Bancroft – Dogsled Athlete (Dyslexia)
Jessica-Jane Applegate – Swimmer (Asperger’s)
David Beckham – Soccer Star (Tourette Syndrome)
Simone Biles – Olympic Gymnast (ADHD)
Jared Blank – Marathon Winner (Dyslexia)
Billy Blanks – Fitness Expert (Dyslexia)
Jeremy Bonderman – MLB Player (Dyslexia)
Terry Bradshaw – Superbowl Champion & Sports Commentator (ADHD)
Danny Chew – Cyclist (Asperger’s)
Jason Conley – Professional Basketball Player (Dyslexia)
Meryl Davis – Olympic Ice Skater (Dyslexia)
Tommy Dis Brisay – Runner (Asperger’s)
Nikolas DiDomenico – Cyclist (Asperger’s)
Jean Driscoll – Wheelchair Racer (Spina Bifida)
Jim Eisenreich – Major League Baseball Player (Asperger’s & Tourette Syndrome)
Aaron Fotheringham – Extreme Wheelchair Athlete (Spina Bifida)
Terry Fox – Canadian Athlete (Amputee athlete)
Sudarshan Gautam – Mountaineer (Amputee athlete)
Duncan Goodhew – Swimmer (Dyslexia)
Andy Goram – Soccer Player (Schizophrenia)
Franck Gore – NFL Player (Dyslexia)
Cammi Granato – Olympic Hockey Player (ADHD)
Alex Green – NFL Player (Dyslexia)
Tanni Grey-Thompson – Wheelchair Racing Athlete (Spina Bifida)
Bethany Hamilton – Surfer (Amputee athlete)
Nicolas Hamilton – British Racing Driver (Cerebral Palsy)
Mia Hamm – Soccer Star (Clubfoot)
Justin Hansen – College Football Player (Asperger’s)
Jovan Haye – Professional Athlete (Dyslexia)
Chris Heald – Wrestler (Dyslexia)
Johhny Herbert – Racecar Driver (Dyslexia)
Tim Howard – Soccer Star (Tourette Syndrome & ADHD)
Rick Hoyt – Ironman Triathlon Athlete (Cerebral Palsy)
Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner – Track Star (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Magic Johnson – Basketball Star (Dyslexia)
Michael Jordan – Basketball Star (ADHD)
Esmond Knight – Actor (Visually Impaired)
Blake Leeper- Track and Field Athlete (Amputee athlete)
Jewel Lloyd – WNBA Player (Dyslexia)
Carrie Lofgren – Rowing Athlete (Dyslexia)
Greg Louganis – Diver (Dyslexia)
Glenn Malmskog – Stuntman (Amputee athlete)
Peyton Manning – NFL Star (Cleft)
Curt Marsh – Football Player (Amputee athlete)
Guy Martin – Motorcycle Racer (Asperger’s)
Clay Marzo – Surfer (Asperger’s)
Mike May – Skier (Visually Impaired)
Brian McKeever – Skier (Visually Impaired)
Ljubo Milicevic – Soccer Player (Cleft)
Steven Naismith – Soccer Player (Dyslexia)
Nick Newell – MMA Fighter (Congenital Amputee athlete)
Diamond Dallas Page – Wrestler (Dyslexia)
Amy Palmiero-Winters – Sports World Record Holder (Amputee athlete)
Bruce Payne – Actor (Spina Bifida)
Michael Phelps – Olympic Swimmer (ADHD)
Sarah Reinertsen – Track Athlete (Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency)
Sir Steven Redgrave – Olympic Rower (Dyslexia)
Scott Rigsby – Ironman Champion & Speaker (Amputee athlete)
Marcelo Ríos – Tennis Player (Asperger’s)
Pete Rose – Baseball Star (ADHD)
Marla Runyan – Track & Field Athlete (Visually Impaired)
Babe Ruth – Baseball Legend (ADHD)
Nolan Ryan – MLB Player (Dyslexia)
Rex Ryan – NFL Coach (Dyslexia)
Mark Schlereth – NFL Player (Dyslexia)
Zohar Sharon – Pro Golfer (Visually Impaired)
Karina Smirnoff – Professional Dancer (ADHD)
Brett Smrz – Stunt Performer (Amputee athlete)
Linus Söderström – NHL Hockey Player (Asperger’s)
Scott Sonnon – Martial Arts Champion (Dyslexia)
Sir Jackie Stewart – Racecar Driver(Dyslexia)
Tim Tebow – NFL Player & Baseball Player (Dyslexia)
Jerry Traylor – Mountaineer (Cerebral Palsy)
Shane Victorino – Major League Baseball Player (ADHD)
Codi Ware – Racecar Driver (Asperger’s)
Erik Weihenmayer – Athlete Adventurer (Visually Impaired)
Tom Whittaker – Mountaineer (Amputee athlete)
Justin Wilson – Indycar Driver (Dyslexia)
Buddy Winnett – Horse Jockey (Spina Bifida)
Charles Woodson – Football Star (Clubfoot)
Kristi Yamaguchi – Figure Skater (Clubfoot)
Alex Zanardi – Racing Driver (Amputee athlete)

Famous Paralympians

One of the UK’s most popular famous disabled female athletes is Paralympic swimming medalist Ellie Simmonds. The Daily Record reported:

“Born with achondroplasia, a genetic mutation which causes dwarfism, she refused to let her disability define her. She battled back from painful surgery to straighten her legs and became Britain’s youngest ever individual medallist.”

These famous paralympians have more than 10 gold medals (and many other silver or bronze!):

Maria Batalova – Paralympic Ice Hockey Player (Cerebral Palsy)
Daniel Dias – Paralympic Swimmer (Limb Deficiency)
Michael Edgson – Paralympic Swimmer (Visually Impaired)
George Louis Eyser – Olympic Gymnast (Amputee athlete)
Heinz Frei – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Amputee Athlete)
Béatrice Hess – Paralympic Swimmer (Cereral Palsy)
Frank Höfle – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Visually Impaired)
Mike Kenny – Paralympic Swimmer (Paralysis)
Jonas Jacobsson – Paralympic Shooter (Paralysis)
Roberto Marson – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Paralysis)
Reinhild Moeller – Paralympic Skiier (Amputee Athlete)
Amie Mullins – Paralympic Athlete (Amputee athlete)
Ragnhild Myklebust – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Polio)
Mayumi Narita – Paralympic Swimmer (Paralysis)
Franz Nietlispach – Paralympic Athlete (Amputee Athlete)
Chantal Petitclerc – Paralympic Athlete (Paralysis)
Oscar Pistorius – Paralympic Athlete (Fibular Hemimelia – Amputee athlete)
Erin Popovich – Paralympic Swimmer (Achondroplasia)
Zipora Rubin-Rosenbaum – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Polio)
Gerd Schoenfelder – Paralympic Skiier (Limb Deficiency)
Ellie Simmonds – Paralympic Swimmer (Achondroplasia Dwarfism)
Sarah Storey – Paralympic Multi-Sport Athlete (Limb Deficiency)
Trischa Zorn – Paralympic Swimmer (Visually Impaired)

Famous Paralympians to watch at the Tokyo Olympics

Ricardo Ten Argiles – Paralympic Cyclist (Amputee athlete)
Scout Bassett – Paralympic Track & Field Athlete (Amputee athlete)
Jannik Blair – Wheelchair Basketball Paralympian (Paralysis)
McKenzie Coan – Paralympic Swimmer (Brittle Bone Disease)
Carol Cooke – Paralympic Cyclist (Multiple Sclerosis)
Joe Delagrave – Wheelchair Rugby Paralympian(Spinal cord injury)
Amanda Dennis – Goalball Paralympian (Visually Impaired)
Lucy Ejike – Powerlifting Paralympian (Polio)
WANG Jiachao – Paralympic Triathlete (Amputee athlete)
Jefinho – Paralympic Soccer Player (Visually Impaired)
Jessica Long – Paralympic Swimmer (Amputee athlete)
Juan Diego Garcia Lopez – Taekwondo Paralympian (Limb deficiency)
Kaleo Kanahele Maclay – Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Athlete (Clubfoot)
Scott Martlew – Paralympic Canoeing (Limb deficiency)
Oksana Masters – Paralympic Road Cyclist (Radiation-induced birth defects)
Tatyana McFadden – Paralympic Track & Field Athlete (Spina Bifida)
Zara Nemati – Paralympic Archery (Paralysis)
Nicky Nieves – Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Athlete (Limb deficiency)
Leani Ratri Oktila – Paralympic Badminton (Limb deficiency)
Roman Polianskyi – Paralympic Rower (Paralysis)
Markus Rehm – Paralympic Long Jumper (Amputee athlete)
Eduardo Avila Sanchez – Paralmypic Judo (Visually Impaired)
Allysa Seely – Paralympic Triathlete (Amputee athlete)
David Smith – Paralympic Boccia (Cerebral Palsy)
Melissa Stockwell – Paralympic Triathlete (Amputee athlete)
Melissa Tapper – Table Tennis Paralympian (Erb’s Palsy)
Sanne Voets – Paralympic Equestrian (Limb deficiency)
Mallory Weggemann – Paralympic Swimmer (Paralysis)
Jordanne Whiley – Wheelchair Tennis Paralympian (Osteogenesis Imperfecta)
TANG Xuemei – Sitting Volleyball Paralympian (Amputee athlete)
YU CHUI YEE Alison – Wheelchair Fencing Paralympian (Amputee athlete)

Famous Scientists with Disabilities [and Inventors]

Many of these scientists are rumored to have a disability. Among famous people with learning disabilities is Temple Grandin, who is very open about being on the autism spectrum.

(image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Alexander Graham Bell – Inventor (Asperger’s)
Baruj Benacerraf – Physiologist (Dyslexia)
Richard Borcherds – Mathematician (Asperger’s)
Louis Braille – Inventor (Visually Impaired)
Dr. Janice Brunstrom-Hernandez – Neurologist (Cerebral Palsy)
Henry Cavendish – Scientist (Asperger’s)
Simon Clemment – Scientist (Dyslexia)
James Clerk Maxwell – Scientist (Dyslexia)
Pierre Curie – Physicist (Dyslexia)
Harvey Cushing – Surgeon (Dyslexia)
Charles Darwin – Naturalist (Asperger’s)
Jacques Dubochet – Biophysicist (Dyslexia)
Thomas Edison – Inventor (Asperger’s & Dysgraphia)
Albert Einstein – Scientist (Asperger’s & Dysgraphia)
Leonhard Euler – Mathematician (Visually Impaired)
Albert Einstein – Mathematician (Dyslexia)
Michael Faraday – Scientist (Dyslexia)
Tom Francis – AIDS Researcher (Dyslexia)
Galileo Galilei – Astronomer (Visually Impaired & Dyslexia)
Alexander Graham Bell – Inventor (Dyslexia)
Temple Grandin – Scientist (Asperger’s)
Carol Greider – Biologist (Dyslexia)
Stephen Hawking – Physicist (ALS)

What disability did Stephen Hawking have? The famous Physicist was diagnosed with ALS in 1963.

Hawking taking a zero-gravity flight in a reduced-gravity aircraft, April 2007 (image source: Wikipedia Public Domain)

Oliver Heaviside – Physicist (Asperger’s)
John Robert Horner – Paleontologist (Dyslexia)
Alfred Kinsey – Scientist (Asperger’s)
William P. Lear – Inventor (Dyslexia)
Dr. William Moon – Inventor (Visually Impaired)
Bernard Morin – Mathematician (Visually Impaired)
John Nash – Mathematician (Acute Paranoid Schizophrenia & Asperger’s)

Mathematician John Nash is one of the most famous people with intellectual disabilities. The 2001 film A Beautiful Mind was based on the story of his life managing his disabilities.

Nash Pictured in 2011 (image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Abraham Nemeth – Inventor & Mathematician (Visually Impaired)
Sir Isaac Newton – Mathematician (Asperger’s)
Louis Pasteur – Scientist (Dyslexia)
Joseph Plateau – Physicist (Visually Impaired)
Archer John Porter Martin – Chemist (Dyslexia)
Dawn Prince-Hughes – Scientist (Asperger’s)
John Robert Skoyles – Brain Researcher (Dyslexia)
Anne Sullivan – American Teacher of Helen Keller (Visually Impaired)
Alan Turing – Mathematician (Asperger’s)
Wener Von Braun – Aerospace (Dyslexia)
John Wesley Powell – Scientist (Amputee)
Eli Whitney – Inventor (Dyslexia)
Ludwig Wittgenstein – Logician (Asperger’s)
The Wright Brothers – Aviation Inventors (Dyslexia)

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities [& Leaders with Disabilities]

This list of famous successful people with disabilities includes politicians, company creators, and activists. Does Erin Brockovich have Dyslexia? The famous environmental activist struggled with her learning disability in school but has still been very successful. She said:

“Life is full of challenges whether you are learning disabled or not. It’s how you handle those challenges.”

Brockovich speaking at the Arizona Ultimate Women’s Expo in Phoenix, AZ – October 2016 (Image source: Gage Skidmore)

Annie Antón – Founder of ThePrivacyPlace.org (ADHD)
Thomas Rhodes Armitage – Founder of Royal National Institute for the Blind (Visually Impaired)
Princess Beatrix of York – British Royal family member (Dyslexia)
Michael Bennett – U.S. Senator (Dyslexia)
Richard H. Bernstein – Politician (Visually Impaired)
Blondinbella – Swedish Entrepreneur & Author (ADHD & Asperger’s)
Dr. Jacob Bolotin – 1st Blind Physician (Visually Impaired)
David Blunkett – British Politician (Visually Impaired)
RaShad Birsto – 1st Police Academy Graduate with one arm (Congenital Amputee)
Adam Bradford – Activist & Entrepreneur (Asperger’s)
Sir Richard Branson – Entrepreneur (ADHD & Dyspraxia)
Ralph Braun – Entrepreneur (Musclar Dystrophy)
Erin Brockovich – Activist (Dyslexia)
Gordon Brown – UK Prime Minister (Visually Impaired)
Emma Lowell-Buck – Political Figure (Dyspraxia)
Warren Buffet – Berkshire Hathaway (Dyslexia)
Michael Burry – U.S. Investment Fund Manager (Asperger’s)
Neil Bush – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
Brisco Cain – Politician (Asperger’s)
Dan Carter – Politician (Dyslexia)
John Chambers – CISCO (Dyslexia)
Winston Churchill – Politician & Author (Dyslexia)
Max Cleland – American Politician (Amputee)
Timothy Clifford – British Art Historian (Dyslexia)
Gary Cohn – Business Leader (Dyslexia)
Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr. – Astronaut (Dyslexia)
Jessica Cox – Pilot & Disability Activist (Amelia Birth Defect)
Paul Dewar – Canadian Politician (Dyslexia)
Walt Disney – Disney Creator (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Tim Ferriss – Author (Dyslexia & Dysgraphia)

(image source: Wikipedia Creative Commons)

Tim Ferriss is the author of the popular book 4-hour Work Week. In an interview with Lifehack.org, Ferriss opened up about his struggles with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia in school:

“Writing this book required me to conquer serious inner demons. I was mildly dyslexic at a young age and still have a lot of trouble with dysgraphia: miswriting and mixing up letters. Finishing my senior thesis in college almost killed me, and this book was more than twice the length.”

Alexander Faludy – Youngest Cambridge Graduate in 200 Years (Dyslexia)
Steve Fielding – Australian Politician (Dyslexia)
Benjamin Franklin – U.S. Politician (Asperger’s)
Henry Ford – Industrialist (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Bill Gates – Entrepreneur (Asperger’s)
Benn Glenn – Professional Speaker (ADHD)
Al Gore – Politician (Asperger’s)
Jeff Greenfield – Political Analyst (Asperger’s)
Cyrus Habib – Politician (Visually Impaired)
Tommy Hilfiger – Clothing Designer (Dyslexia)
Howard Hughes – Entrepreneur (Tourette Syndrome)
Thomas Gore – U.S. Politician (Visually Impaired)
Carl XVI Gustaf – King of Sweden (Dyslexia)
Reyn Guyer – NERF & Twister (Dyslexia)
Michael Heseltine – Politician (Dyslexia)
William Hunt Gross – Investor & Philanthropist (Asperger’s)
Howard Hughes – American Businessperson (Asperger’s)
Daniel Inouye – U.S. Senator (Amputee)
Jesse Jackson – Civil Rights Activist (Cleft)
Thomas Jefferson – U.S. President (Asperger’s)
Steve Jobs – Apple Co-founder (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Margaux Joffe – Producer & ADHD Community Leader (ADHD)
Barbara Jordan – Politician (Multiple Sclerosis)

Are there are famous disabled people of color? Yes, absolutely! Known for her work as a Civil Rights Activist, Barbara Jordan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis later in 1973, according to Wikipedia.

Barbara Jordan, member of the United States House of Representatives. (image source: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Ingvar Kamprad – IKEA (Dyslexia)
Scott Kelly – Astronaut (ADHD)
Edward Moore Kennedy, Jr. – Politician (Amputee)
John F. Kennedy – U.S. President (ADHD)
Bob Kerrey – U.S. Politician (Amputee)
Michael Kutcher – Entrepreneur & CP Advocate (Cerebral Palsy)
Don Blas de Lezo – Spanish Navy Officer (Amputee)
Daniel Lightwing – Internet Gambling Business Co-Founder (Asperger’s)
Lawrence Carter-Long – Disability Activist (Cerebral Palsy)
Abraham Lincoln – U.S. President (Asperger’s)
Andrew Lourake – Active Duty Military Pilot (Amputee)
Ludwig II – King of Bavaria (Asperger’s)
Lindsay Mason – Politician (Asperger’s)
Craig McCaw – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
O.D. McKee – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
David Murdock – Businessman (Dyslexia)
Elon Musk – Tesla & SpaceX Co-Founder (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Timothé Nadim – French Politician (Asperger’s)
David Neeleman – Aviation Entrepreneur (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Lisa Nowak – American Astronaut (Asperger’s)
King Olaf of Norway – Monarch (Dyslexia)
Paul Orfalea – Founder of Kinko’s (ADHD)
David Alexander Paterson – Politician (Visually Impaired)
Kerry Packer – Media Tycoon (Dyslexia)
George Patton – Military General (Dysgraphia & Dyslexia)
Carl Phillip – Prince of Sweden (Dyslexia)
Geoff Plant – Politician (Cleft)
Joseph Pulitzer – Newspaper Publish (Visually Impaired)
Omar Abdel-Rahman – Egyptian Sheikh (Visually Impaired)
Lee Raymond – Entrepreneur (Cleft)
David Ring – Motivational Speaker (Cerebral Palsy)
Thomas Ritter – Famous Attorney (Cerebral Palsy)
Nelson Rockefeller – Former United State Vice President (Dyslexia)
Anita Roddick – The Body Shop (Dyslexia)
Franklin D. Roosevelt – U.S. President (Polio & Paraplegia)
Harilyn Rousso – Disability Rights Activist (Visually & Hearing Impaired)
Carlos Slim – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
Kerry Stokes – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
Lord Alan Sugar – Entrepreneur (Dyslexia)
Satoshi Tajiri – Pokemon Inventor (Asperger’s)
Nikola Tesla – Inventor of Electric Motors (Asperger’s)
Donald Trump – U.S. President (Asperger’s & ADHD)
Barron Trump – Public Figure & Donald Trump’s Son (ADHD)
Penelope Trunk – Entrepreneur & Author (Asperger’s)
Ted Turner – Media Proprietor (Dyslexia)
King Tutankhamun – Egyptian Pharaoh (Cleft)
Bill Veeck – MLB Franchise Owner (Amputee)
Nick Vujicic – Evangelist (Tetra Amelia Syndrome)
Abdurrahman Wahid – Former Indonesian President (Visually Impaired)
Stephen Wampler – Motivational Speaker (Cerebral Palsy)
George Washington – U.S. President (Asperger’s)
William Wrigley Jr. – Wrigley Chewing Gum (Dyslexia)
Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook Founder (Asperger’s)

Authors with Disabilities [and Poets]

There are loads of famous disabled authors and poets. Agatha Christie is a well-known author who has been diagnosed with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. A blog about Agatha Christie said:

“In no way did dyslexia stop Agatha from learning to write well and establishing herself in a creative profession so dominated by men.”

Famous Dyslexic Author Agatha Christie pictured in 1964 (image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Scott Adams – Comic Book Writer (Dyslexia)
Carmen Agra Deedy – Author (Dyslexia)
Syed Talha Ahsan – Poet (Asperger’s)
Hans Christian Anderson – Author (Dyslexia)
Louise Arnold – Writer (Dyslexia)
Isaac Asimov – Author (Asperger’s)
Tilly Aston – Writer (Visually Impaired)
Jane Austen – Writer (Asperger’s)
Avi – Writer (Dyslexia)
Daantjie Badenhorst – Journalist & Author (Asperger’s)
Kage Baker – Writer (Asperger’s)
Jeanne Betancourt – Writer (Dyslexia)
Robert Bolaño – Novelist (Dyslexia)
Henry Bond – Writer (Asperger’s)
Jorge Luis Borges – Writer (Visually Impaired)
Axel Brauns – Writer (Asperger’s)
Chrisann Brennan – Writer (Dyslexia)
Christy Brown – Author (Cerebral Palsy)
Octavia Estelle Butler – Writer (Dyslexia)
Stacey R. Campbell – Writer (Dyslexia)
Stephen Cannell – Novelist (Dyslexia)
Lewis Carroll – Author (Dyslexia)
G K Chesterton – Writer (Dyspraxia)
Agatha Christie – Author (Dysgraphia & Dyslexia)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Poet (Dyspraxia)
Todd Rafael Cimino – Novelist (Asperger’s)
Jennifer Cook O’Toole – Writer (Asperger’s)
Anderson Cooper – Journalist (Dyslexia)
Fanny Crosby – Poet (Visually Impaired)
Chip Delaney – Author (Dyslexia)
Emily Dickinson – Poet (Asperger’s)
Charles Dickinson – Writer (Asperger’s)
Joni Eareckson Tada – Author (Quadriplegia)
Tim Ellis – Australian Author & Magician (Asperger’s)
Katherine Ellison – Author (ADHD)
F. Scott Fitzgerald – Author (Dyslexia)
Fannie Flagg – Author & Actress (Dyslexia)
Gustave Flaubert – Writer (Dyslexia)
Richard Ford – Author (Dyslexia)
Jay Bradford Fowler – Author & Poet (Spina Bifida)
Sally Gardner – Writer (Dyslexia)
Gunilla Gerland – Author (Asperger’s)
Jhamak Ghimire – Writer (Cerebral Palsy)
Terry Goodkind – Author (Dyslexia)
Temple Grandin – Writer (Asperger’s)
Ian Gregson – Author & Poet (Amputee)
Wendy Harmer – Author & Media Personality (Cleft)
Dan Harmon – Writer (Asperger’s)
Robert Hensel – Author (Spina Bifida)
Liane Holliday Willey – Author (Asperger’s)
John Charles Hockenberry – Author & Journalist (Paraplegia)
John Irving – Screenwriter (Dyslexia)
Luke Jackson – Author (Asperger’s)
Dr. Samuel Johnson – Writer (Tourette Syndrome)
Franz Kafka – Writer (Asperger’s)
Garrison Keillor – Writer (Asperger’s)
Helen Keller – Author (Visually Impaired)
Sherrilyn Kenyon – Author (Dyslexia)
Jack Kerouac – Writer (Dyspraxia)
Rosie King – Writer (Asperger’s)
Lynda La Plant – Writer (Dyslexia)
JF Lawton – Screenwriter (Dyslexia)
Lisa Ling – Journalist, Author & TV Personality (ADHD)
Audre Lorde – Poet (Visually Impaired)
H. P. Lovecraft – Writer (Asperger’s)
Jacques Lusseyran – Author (Visually Impaired)
Anne McDonald – Author (Cerebral Palsy)
Tom McLaughlin – Author (Dyslexia)
Lousie Mensch – Blogger & Novelist (ADHD)
John Milton – Writer (Visually Impaired)
A.R. Morlan – Author (Asperger’s)
Caiseal Mor – Writer (Dyslexia)
Don Mullan – Author (Dyslexia)
Jerry Newport – Author & Mathematical Savant (Asperger’s)
Chris Nolan – Author & Poet (Cerebral Palsy)
Brendan O’Carroll – Writer & Comedian (Dyslexia)
Bonner Paddock (Cerebral Palsy)
David Allen Patterson – Author & Researcher (ADHD)
Tim Page – Pulitzer Prize Author (Asperger’s)
Dav Pilkey – Author & Illustrator (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Jerry Pinkney – Author (Dyslexia)
Katie Piper – Author (Visually Impaired)
Patricia Polacco – Writer (Dyslexia)
Markku Tapani Pölönen – Screenwriter (Asperger’s)
John Quinn – Author & Ware Veteran (Cerebral Palsy)
John Elder Robinson – Author (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
George Bernard Shaw – Writer (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Ruth Sienkiewicz-Mercer – Author & Activist (Cerebral Palsy)
Rudy Simone – Author (Asperger’s)
Eileen Simpson – Poet (Dyslexia)
Paul Sinha – Comedian (Parkinson’s)
Bonnie St. John – Author & Paralympic Athlete (Amputee)
Surdas – Poet & Singer (Visually Impaired)
Susanna Tamaro – Author (Asperger’s)
Daniel Tammet – Novelist & Poet (Asperger’s)
Bernard Taylor – Playwright (Dyslexia)
Raymond Thompson – Scriptwriter (Asperger’s)
Henry Thoreau – Writer (Asperger’s)
Sue Townsend – Writer (Visually Impaired)
Mark Twain – Writer (Asperger’s)
Jules Verne – Writer (Dyslexia)
Victor Villaseñor – Author (Dyslexia)

Victor Villaseñor books gained popularity in the United States despite the popular author dropping out of school in 11th grade. According to Dyslexic Help:

“Unknown to both himself and others until well into his adult life, Victor Villasenor was dyslexic – a disability he later called his gift which allowed him to “see patterns that other people couldn’t see”.”

Villaseñor in 2015 (image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Michael Wolff – Author (Tourette Syndrome)
Virginia Woolf – Writer (Asperger’s)
W.B. Yeats – Poet (Dyslexia)
Ahmet Zappa – Writer (Dyslexia)

Musicians with Disabilities

Ray Charles known as the pioneer of soul music is one of the most famous musicians with disabilities. An article on Ray Charles says:

“Ray Charles did not lose his sight until he was about seven years old. Years later, doctors suggested that juvenile glaucoma had caused his blindness. But Charles always maintained that his visual impairment never hindered his career in any way.”

Ray Charles performing in 1971. (image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Rick Allen – Drummer (Amputee)
Adam Ant – Singer (Bipolar Disorder)
Apl.de.ap – rapper (Visually Impaired)
Frankie Armstrong – Folk Singer (Visually Impaired)
Lil B – Rapper (Asperger’s)
Mel B – Musician (ADHD)
Johann Sebastian Bach – Composer (Visually Impaired)
Carmit Bachar – Singer (Cleft)
Sven Anders Bagge – Composer (ADHD)
Syd Barrett – Musician (Schizophrenia)
Geoff Barrow – Musician (Dyslexia)
Bella Bartok – Composer (Asperger’s)
Ludwig van Beethoven – Composer (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Harry Belafonte – Singer (Dyslexia)
Tony Bennett – Singer (Dyslexia)
Andrea Boccelli – Composer (Visually Impaired – Congenital Glaucoma)
Mark Boerbach – Musical Savant (Asperger’s)
Charles “Buddy” Bolden – Musician (Schizophrenia)
Park Bom – Singer (ADHD)
Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent Singer (Asperger’s)
Anton Bruckner – Composer(Asperger’s)
Aaron Bruno – Singer (ADHD)
Dan Bull – Rapper (Asperger’s)
David Byrne – Singer (Asperger’s)
Celine Byrne – Irish Soprano (Dyslexia)
Loyle Carner – Hip Hop Musician (ADHD)
Clarence Carter – Singer (Visually Impaired)
Ray Charles – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Cher – Singer & Actress (Dyslexia)
Stewart Copeland – Musician (Dyslexia)
Frederick Delius – Composer (Paraplegia & Visually Impaired)
John Denver – Musician (Asperger’s)
Zooey Deschanel – Musician, Actress & Model (ADHD)
James Durbin – American Idol Singer (Asperger’s)
Bob Dylan – Musician (Asperger’s)
Joseph Eber – Musician (Asperger’s)
Billie Eilish – Singer (Tourette Syndrome)
Dorian Electra – Musician (ADHD)
Eminem – Rapper (Asperger’s)
Example – Musician & Rapper (ADHD & Asperger’s )
Dex Fafara – Musician (ADHD)
Paloma Faith – Musician (Dyslexia)
Jose Feliciano – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Ella Fitzgerald – Jazz Singer (Amputee & Visually Impaired)
Mick Fleetwood – Drummer (Dyslexia)
Paul Frappier – Musician (Dyslexia)
Noel Gallagher – Musician (Dyslexia)
Glenn Gould – Pianist (Asperger’s)
Peter Green – Musician (Schizophrenia)
W.C. Handy – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Tom Harrell – Musician (Schizophrenia)
Jamie Grace Harper – Musician (Tourette Syndrome)
Richard Hawley – Musician (Cleft)
Jeff Healey – Vocalist (Visually Impaired)
David Helfgott – Pianist (Asperger’s)
Bill Hewlett – Hewlett Packard (Dyslexia)
Al Hibbler – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Tony Iommi – Guitarist (Amputee)
Michael Jackson – Musician (Asperger’s)
Blind Lemon Jefferson – Blue Singer (Visually Impaired)
Jewel – Singer (Dyslexia)
Elton John – Singer (Epilepsy)
Kerry Katona – Singer & Songwriter (ADHD)
Chief Keef – Rapper (Asperger’s)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Kleerup – Musician (ADHD)
Solange Knowles – Singer (ADHD)
Roger Kynard – Musician (Schizophrenia)
Stalebread Lacombe – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Ladyhawke – Musician (Asperger’s)
Francesco Landini – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Left at London – Singer & Comedian (ADHD)
Denise Leigh – Singer (Visually Impaired)
John Lennon – Musician (ADHD & Dyslexia)
Juice Leskinen – Musician (Asperger’s)
Adam Levine – Musician & Entrepreneur (ADHD)
Abz Love – Rapper (Asperger’s)
Courtney Love – Singer (Asperger’s)
Joyner Lucas – Rapper & Producer (ADHD)
Shane Lynch – Musician (Dyslexia)
Rita MacNeil – Singer (Cleft)
Gustav Mahler – Composer (Asperger’s)
Marie-Mai – Musician (ADHD)
Blind Willie McTell – Singer (Visually Impaired)
John Cougar Mellencamp – Musician (Spina Bifida)
Joe Meek – Record Producer (Schizophrenia)
Travis Meeks – Musician (Asperger’s)
Ronnie Milsap – Singer (Visually Impaired)
Gilbert Montagne – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Josh Morgan – Drummer (Asperger’s)
Bob Mosley – Musician (Schizophrenia)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Composer (ADHD, Asperger’s & Tourette Syndrome)
Rich Mullins – Christian Singer/Songwriter (Asperger’s)
Ari Ne’eman – Activist (Asperger’s)
Craig Nicholls – Musician (Asperger’s)
Gary Numan – Singer & Songwriter (Asperger’s)
Ginny Owens – Gospel Singer (Visually Impaired)
Ozzy Osbourne – Musician (Dyslexia)
Maria Theresa Paradis – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Tom Paxton – Singer & Songwriter (ADHD)
Teddy Pendergrass – Singer (Paraplegia)
Itzhak Perlman – Violinist (Polio)
Greg Puciato – Musician (ADHD)
Loud Reed – Musician (Dyslexia)
Chris Robinson – Musician (Dyslexia)
Joaquin Rodrigo – Composer (Visually Impaired)
Todd Rundgren – Instrumentalist (ADHD)
Eric Satie – Composer (Asperger’s)
Savant – Musician (Asperger’s)
George Shearing – Pianist (Visually Impaired)
Arnolt Schlick – Organist (Visually Impaired)
Caryl Simon – Singer (Dyslexia)
Slushii – Musician (Asperger’s)
Elliot Smith – Singer & Songwriter (ADHD)
Brittney Spears – Musician (ADHD)
Alexander “Skip” Spence – Musician (Schizophrenia)
John Stanley – Composer (Visually Impaired)
Gwen Stefani – Singer (Dyslexia)

Gwen Stefani of No Doubt at Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day in Washington DC (image source: Lorie Shaull)

Joss Stone – Singer (Dyslexia)
Richard Strauss – Composer (Asperger’s & Dyslexia)
Richard Straus – Composer (Dyslexia)
James Taylor – Musician (Asperger’s)
Alec Templeton – Composer (Visually Impaired)
Ronan Tynan – Musician (Amputee)
Magnus Uggla – Composer (ADHD)
Carrie Underwood – Musician & Actress (ADHD)
Brendon Urie – Musician (ADHD)
Doc Watson – Musician (Visually Impaired)
Chris Webby – Rapper (ADHD)
Bob Weir – Musician (Dyslexia)
Ben Weinman – Musician (ADHD)
Florence Welch – Singer (Dyspraxia & Dyslexia)
Billy West – Musician & Voice Actor (ADHD)
Tom Wiggins – Pianist (Visually Impaired)
Will.i.am – Rapper & Producer (ADHD)
Hank Williams – Singer (Spina Bifida)
Robbie Williams – Singer (Asperger’s)
Johnny Winter — Musician (OCD)
Stevie Wonder – Pianist (Visually Impaired)
Adam Young – Musician (Asperger’s)

Comedians with Disabilities

One of the funniest comedians with disabilities is Josh Blue. These famous people with disabilities are sure to give you a good laugh!

Winner of the television program Last Comic Standing Josh Blue gets the crowd laughing during a holiday concert aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (image source: Wikipedia)

Bethany Black – Comedian (ADHD)
Josh Blue – Comedian (Cerebral Palsy)
Raphael Bob-Waksburg – Comedian, Actor & Producer (ADHD)
Russell Brand – Comedian & Actor (ADHD)
Noah Britton – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group (Asperger’s)
Alex Brooker – Comedian & Journalist (Amputee)
Trip Carey – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group (Asperger’s)
Steady Eddy – Comedian (Cerebral Palsy)
Ethan Finlan – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group (Asperger’s)
Chris Fonseca – Comedian (Cerebral Palsy)
Hannah Gadsby – Comedian & Actress (ADHD)
Rick Green – Comedian (ADHD)
Jack Hanke – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group (Asperger’s)
Ryan Higa – Comedian (ADHD)
Adam Hills- Comedian & Entertainment Personality (Amputee)
Michael Ingemi – Asperger’s Are Us Comedic Group (Asperger’s)
Lee Mack – Comedian & Actor (ADHD)
Howie Mandel – Comedian (ADHD)
Cheech Marin – Comedian & Actor (Cleft)
Patrick McKenna – Comedian (ADHD)
Michael Palin – Comedian (Asperger’s)
Nikki Payne – Comedian (Cleft)
Nabil Abdul Rashid – Comedian (ADHD)
Jerry Seinfeld – Comedian(Asperger’s)
Robert White – Comedian (Asperger’s)
Maysoon Zayid – Comedian & Actress (Cerebral Palsy)

What disability does the kid from Stranger Things have?

Two of the cast members of Stranger Things have been successful in their acting careers. Millie Bobby Brown is hearing impaired according to Glamour Magazine.

And CBS News reported that actor :

“has cleidocranial dysplasia, a condition which affects the development of the teeth and bones. His character on the Netflix series, Dustin, also has the condition.”

Millie Brown speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con (image source: Gage Skidmore)

Gaten Matarazzo speaking at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. (image source: Gage Skidmore)

Why I Wrote This

Ongig is on a mission to eliminate boring and biased job descriptions. As part of this, we try to share best practices on all aspects of diversity. For example, Ongig’s Text Analyzer helps you avoid words that are exclusionary to famous (or non-famous) people with disabilities. Please visit Ongig if you’d like to learn more.

Shout-Outs

Sunrise Medical’s article on 8 inspirational people with disabilities
Passionate People’s article on 15 famous disabled people that overcame their barriers
Disabled World’s Lists of Famous People with Disabilities
Lauren Applebaum’s article on Frida Kahlo, Role Model for Artists, People with Disabilities and Bisexual Women
Tifanny Carlson’s Article on 10 Majorly Successful People With Disabilities
Kelly Bryant’s article on 15 Famous People You Didn’t Realize Overcame a Disability
Brian Hiatt’s article on Johnny Depp: An Outlaw Looks at 50
Wikipedia’s page on RJ Mitte
Nitro Circus’s World’s First Wheelchair Frontflip Video
Amanda Keenan’s article on Superstar Swimmer Ellie Simmonds is aiming for Rio
Marianne’s article on Dyslexia Success Story: Erin Brockovich
Wikipedia’s page on Barbara Jordan
Dyslexia Help’s article on Success & Inspirational Stories: Victor Villasenor
Marianne Sunderland’s article on Agatha Christie – Famous People with Dyslexia
Regan Shrumm’s article on Five Things to Know About Ray Charles
Stacy Leasca’s article on Millie Bobby Brown Opens Up About Being Deaf in One Ear
Jennifer Zabasajja’s article on “Stranger Things” actor Gaten Matarazzo says disorder helped him get the part
Nicole Ingleman’s article on Billie Eilish Reveals She Has Tourette Syndrome After Compilation of Her Tics Emerges Online
‘JOHNNY WINTER: DOWN & DIRTY’ SHINES INTIMATE SPOTLIGHT ON LATE GREAT BLUES GUITARIST (DVD REVIEW) (by Leslie Michele Derrough)
Chris Rock Reveals He’s in Therapy to Help Manage a Nonverbal Learning Disorder (by Sarah Jacoby)
Chuck Close, painter of striking large-scale portraits, dies aged 81 (by Oscar Holland)
Tokyo 2020 (by Paralympic.org)
8 of the Team USA Athletes We Are Excited to Watch at the 2021 Paralympic Games (Christina Stiehl)
The Paralympics Are 100 Days Away — Here Are The Athletes To Watch (by Molly Longman)
Olympics.com
Famous faces reveal their Invisible Disabilities in support of new ITV campaign (by Sara Nelson)
Sofía Jirau has made history as Victoria’s Secret first model with Down syndrome. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican-born model is featured in the brand’s Love Cloud campaign.⁠ (by Good Morning America)

July 26, 2020 by Heather Barbour Fenty in Diversity and Inclusion