Every now and then we’ve probably all had moments of thinking we couldn’t do something because we were too old or too young, too dumb or too smart, too threatening or too intimidated, too experienced or too naïve. We may also have thought we couldn’t do something because of physical, mental or emotional limitations. At
same time, we may have people telling us we can’t because of same considerations. When you need some inspiration, here are some people who refused to be limited by their disabilities. In fact some of them were motivated by it.
As Maria Eagle, UK’s Minister for Disabled People, said, in commenting on winners for Greatest Disabled Britons, “It shows disability is certainly no barrier to greatness. In fact, in a lot of cases it acts as a spur.”
CAN’T DO IT BECAUSE YOU AREN’T PRIVILEGED?
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), dubbed “Survey of Affluent Teenagers,” was no obstacle to a homeless teenager in California, who had been completely home-schooled. He just scored a perfect 800/800 on SAT: http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/574672/detail.html .
TOO OLD?
Americans over age of 65 outpaced all demographic groups entering Internet “by staggering margins,” says CyberAtlas. Jupiter Research confirms: Older adults (50-64) and seniors (65+) were two of fastest emerging demographic groups online.
TOO YOUNG?
According to CyberAtlas, roughly 17 million US surfers during September 2003 were between ages of 2 and 17. That is not a typo. TWO!
BRAIN CHEMICAL CHALLENGES? SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, former prime minister of Great Britain and leader during World War II, was recently voted to Ouch’s Top Ten Greatest Disabled Britons (GDB). He suffered from depression for most of his life, or perhaps was bipolar. The depression, which he referred to as his “black dog,” became worse in later years. This is what lies behind famous, “Never give up. Never. Never. Never. Never.” [Note: Ouch ( www.bbc.co.uk/ouch ) is BBC’s website that reflects life as a disabled person.] LIONEL ALDRIDGE , a defensive end for Vince Lombardi’s legendary Green Bay Packers of 60s, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 70s. While playing, he won three world championships, including two Super bowls. He now gives inspirational talks about his battle against paranoid schizophrenia.
PHYSICAL DISABILITY?
Voted Number One in Ouch’s poll of Greatest Disabled Britons was STEPHEN HAWKING, a world-renowned astrophysicist who is severely physically disabled. “The human race,” he said, “is so puny compared to universe that being disabled is not of much cosmic significance.”
A victim of Motor Neurone Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, he basically lives in “a useless body”. For instance, with computer help, he is able to “speak” 15 words a minute. His site is here: http://www.hawking.org.uk but typically you will find little of his disability. In case you are feeling sorry for yourself because you have an artificial knee or just had a hip replacement, take a look at these photos: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/features/bitch/bitchhawking.shtml .
Hawking holds highest position available at Cambridge, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics.
IAN DURY, a major pop star who was stricken with polio at age of 7, received nearly one-third of votes in GDB poll. Dury, who died a couple of years ago, “strutted around stage with a stick, combining rock ’n’ roll, humor, wit and a stage presence,” said one review. “He was truly brave,” said an article in Guardian Limited, “both physically and in way he approached his music.”
He continued to perform while seriously ill with cancer in his final years. When he discovered expensive drugs he was receiving were not available on NHS, he devoted time to raising funds for an organization called CancerBACUP.
