| A - E | F - L | M - R | S - Z |
ABBOTT Bud, 1900-1974, (epilepsy),
American Comedian of Abbott & Costello comedy team. Starred in over 35 films with
partner Lou Costello from 1940-1965. Famous for the baseball classic comedy routine
"Who’s on First?"
{16,27,32}
ABBOTT Jim, 1967-present, (no right hand),
Major league baseball pitcher. He played Little League and later with his high school
team. He attended the University of Michigan and then pursued his baseball career. Won the
Golden Spikes Award as the finest amateur baseball player in the US. Played on the 1988
U.S. Olympic Baseball team and pitched a gold medal for the US team. He played baseball
for the California Angels and was traded to the New York Yankees.
{43}
ABERCROMBIE Neil, 1938-present, (epilepsy),
United States Representative from Hawaii (1986-1987). Served on the Honolulu City Council
(1988-1990). Sought the Democratic Nomination for US Senate in 1970. First elected to the
House on November 6, 1990. Last elected to House on November 8, 1994.
{27}
ALDRIDGE Lionel, 1941-present, (mental disorder),
A defensive end for Vince Loumbardi’s legendary Green Bay Packers of the 1960’s.
He played in two Super Bowls. In the 1970’s he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and
was homeless for 2 1/2 years. Now gives inspirational talks about his battle against
paranoid schizophrenia.
{58}
ALDRIN Edwin Eugene Jr [Buzz], 1930-present, (bipolar disorder),
United States Astronaut-second person to set foot on the moon. He and Neil Armstrong
landed there in the Apollo Lunar Module on July 20, 1969. He was also the pilot of the
Gemini 12 space flight in 1966.
{85}
ALEXANDER Grover Cleveland, 1887-1950, (epilepsy),
Professional baseball player (Old Pete) (Alex the Great). He was a pitcher who won 28
games in his rookie season. He was deaf in one ear. He was also an alcoholic and
epileptic. Over his lifetime he won 373 games. He was a 30 game winner three years
running. He pitched 90 shutouts/struck out 2198 batters-completed 436 games and earned a
1.22 ERA and .642 winning percentage.
{27,57}
ALEXANDER the Great,356-323BC, (physical impairment) (epilepsy),
King of the Macedonians and was one of the greatest generals in history.
{85}
ALFRED the Great,849-901?, (epilepsy)
West Saxon King and Scholar. Old English literary prose. King of the West Saxons in
Southwestern England. He saved his kingdom-Wessex from the Danish Vikings and laid the
basis for unification of England under the West Saxon Monarchy. He was such an outstanding
leader in war and peace that he is the only English king known as the Great
{27,70,85}
ALI Mohammad, 1942-present, (neuromuscular)
American heavyweight boxing champion. Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay but in 1964 he
adopted the Black Muslim Religion and changed his name. As an adult was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s disease.,
{36,85}
ALONSO Alicia, 1921-present, (visual impairment),
At 16 she married Fernando Alonso and moved to New York City from Cuba. Due to detached
retinas she lost her sight. She still continued to dance in ballet. In 1948 she and her
husband returned to Cuba. She opened Cuba’s first major ballet company.
{43}
AMBROSI Gustinus , 1893-1975, (hearing impairment),
Working primarily in bronze and marble he created sculptures in the classical tradition.
He was also the master of the portrait bust. As sculptor, poet, graphic artist and
philosopher Ambrosi symbolized to many a Renaissance man who had surmounted his fate.
Shortly before this seventh birthday he was stricken with meningitis resulting in
deafness. In 1912 he received both the National Prize for Sculpture and the Felix Von
Weingartner Medallion.
{30}
ANDERSON Hans Christian, 1805-1875, (learning disability),
Denmark's most famous author(writer). His fairy tales are among the most widely read works
in world literature.
{85}
ANDERSON Harry, 1952-present, (attention deficit disorder),
Actor who played Judge Stone on Night Court has attention deficit disorder and has
managed to con and charm his way through school. He had an extraordinary memory and could
remember anything at 16. He was Valedictorian but, he could barely read to rehearse his
lines. He is also a magician and writer.
{4}
ARAFAT Yasir [Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat-al-Qudwa-al- Hussseini],
1929-present, (neuromuscular),
Politician and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1969. He
acquired the nickname Yasir which means easy going as a teenager. In 1994 Arafat shared
the Nobel Peace Prize for peace efforts with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. In 1996 he
was elected president. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease later in life.
{85}
ARISTOLE,384-322 BC, (epilepsy),
Greek philosopher/scientist. Aristotle was a student of Plato. In 343 BC he began tutoring
the young Alexander the Great. In 334 BC he lectured at a public gymnasium called the
Lyceum. He is considered one of the two great philosophers of antiquity along with Plato.
He wrote on many subjects from biology to astronomy to rhetoric and literary criticism.
{26}
ARMES Jay J., 1938-present, (physical impairment),
Born [Julian Armas] but changed his name to Jay J. Armes. He was born in Ysleta Texas. In
1949 at the age of 12 he was involved in an accident that resulted in both of his hands
being amputated and hooks were placed as artificial hands. Some people say he’s the
best private eye in the world.
{33,43}
ARNOLD Hillis, 1910-present, (hearing impairment),
American sculptor and teacher who lost his hearing at six months of age due to spinal
meningitis. He taught sculpture and ceramics for 32 years at Monticello College in Godfrey
IL now Lewis and Clark Community College. He is an advocate of symbolism and his art
reveals a debt to expressionism.
{43}
ASHLEY Jack, 1922-present, (hearing impairment)
Politician. Jack is probably the only totally deaf member of any legislature in the world.
His story is an inspiring record of coping with restricted education and vocational
opportunities and with the impact of total deafness. His career was threatened in 1968
when he became totally deaf after a supposedly minor operation for the repair of the
perforation of his left ear. His autobiography (Journey into Silence) 1973 describes his
feelings on returning to Parliament following this disaster.
{43}
BADER, Douglas Sir, 1910-1982, (physical impairment),
Pilot-War Hero, was a fighter pilot and wing commander in Great Britain's Royal Air Force.
He introduced fighting tactics that saved the lives of many British pilots. He lost both
legs in a plane crash several years before World War II. He refused to be defeated by his
disability. He was awarded both the Distinguished Services Order and the Distinguished
Flying Cross for leadership and valor in action.
{43}
BALAGUER Joaquin, 1907-present, (visual impairment),
President of Dominican Republic, politician and author who served in Madrid from
1932-1935, Under Secretary Foreign Affairs. Government of UN 1947. Founder of Reformist
Party 1962, leader 1962-1985.
{24,28,82}
BALLARD Kaye, 1926-present, (hearing impairment),
Stage actor and TV comedienne who starred in television series The Mothers-in-Law
1967-1969.
{4}
BEATTY Ned, 1937-present, (bipolar disorder),
American Actor. Appeared in films Deliverance 1972, Superman 1978.
{4}
BEETHOVEN Ludwig Von, 1770-1827, (bipolar depression) (hearing
impairment),
Brilliant composer who experienced bipolar depression and lost his hearing in 1800.
{35,85}
BELAFONTE Harry, 1927-present, (learning disability),
American singer and motion picture actor who became best known for his interpretation of
West Indian Calypso music, popularized Asian and African songs as well as American ballads
and spirituals.
{4,11}
BELL Alexander Graham, 1847-1922, (learning disability),
An American inventor and educator. Best known for his invention of the telephone.
{85}
BELL Buddy [David Gus Bell], 1951-present, (epilepsy),
Professional baseball player and manager of the Detroit Tigers. Five time All Star 1973,
1980-82 and 1984.
{85}
BERLIOZ Hector, 1803-1869, (epilepsy)
French composer, major work Symphonic Fantastique 1830, known for his orchestrating
genius, his long, uninterrupted melodies, and his way of relating his musical compositions
to stories, ideas known as program music.
{11,85}
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON [Lemon Jefferson Couchman], 1897-1929, (vision
impairment)
Blind from childhood he was the most popular male blues recording artist of the 1920s,
making over 100 recordings in the last four years of his life with 43 records issued, all
but one on the Paramount label.
BLIND WILLIE MCTELL [Willie Samuel McTear], 1901-1959, (vision
impairment)
Musician. McTell learned guitar as a youngster from his mother, made his recording debut
in 1927 after working as a street singer and medicine show minstrel. In the 1930s he
recorded 48 sides for four companies under four different names. He was the only survivor
of his era to make Library of Congress field recordings and postwar records for the
R&B market as well.
BONAPARTE Napoleon [Napoleon I], 1769-1821, (epilepsy),
French Emperor who crowned himself as emperor of France. He was the greatest military
genius of his time and perhaps the greatest general in history. He stood 5 foot 2 inches
tall which is about average for Frenchman of his time.
{85}
BONERZ Peter, 1938-present, (speech impairment),
American actor and director of episodes of Bob Newhart Show 1972-1978, director of
It’s Your Move 1984.
{20}
BOOTH Edmund, 1810-1905, (visual impairment),
Edmund Booth was nearly 6 feet 3 inches tall over 200 pounds. He was blind in one eye and
profoundly deaf. He edited an Iowa newspaper (Anamosa Eureka) from 1856 to 1895. Before
settling on a career he was a teacher, farmer, postmaster, country recorder, enrollment
clerk in Iowa territorial legislature and California gold miner. He helped organize the
National Association of the Deaf (NAD) in 1880.
{43}
BORGES Jorge Luis, 1899-1986, (visual impairment)
He was an Argentine man of letters. He won international acclaim for his distinctive
fictions and short stories. He was a librarian too.
{23,85}
BOVE Linda, 1945-present, (hearing impairment),
Bove who is deaf started on Sesame Street in 1971 and in 1976 she became a permanent
member of the show. Also was the female lead in Spoon River Anthology. Her parents
were also deaf. In college she majored in Library Science and took part in dramatics where
she claimed her performances as Polly Peachum in Three Penny Opera. She has
contributed greatly to children's theater and is one of the first five members who started
Little Theater for the Deaf. She also is a member of the National Theaters of the Deaf.
She has also appeared on Search for Tomorrow, Dick Cavett Show and Happy
Days.
{43}
BRADY James, 1940-present, (traumatic brain injury)
Former White House Press Secretary who was shot in the head in an assassination attempt on
President Ronald Reagan in 1981. He is also responsible for the Brady Bill.
{56}
BRAILLE Louis, 1809-1852, (visual impairment),
Blind Frenchman who developed braille alphabet and reading system. He became blind at the
age of 3 from an accident. In 1829 Braille published his dot system.
{56}
BRIDGMAN Laura, 1829-1889, (deaf and blind),
First deaf-blind student ever educated in the United States. She became deaf and blind due
to scarlet fever. In 1837 she came to the attention of Samuel G. Howe - founder and
director of Perkins School for the Blind. This is where she learned to read, write and do
math. She became a good seamstress and learned to sew on a sewing machine. She could
deftly thread a needle with her tongue.
{43,56}
BRODERSON Morris, 1928-present, (hearing impairment),
Artist who is known as a noted digressive painter. He gained national recognition with the
painting of The Chicken Market (1960). Deaf at birth and educated in California.
Many of his themes are from his travels.
{43}
BROWN Christy, 1932-1981, (physical impairment),
Author born in Dublin Ireland. At birth he lacked oxygen for a few minutes causing him to
have a condition called athetoid cerebral palsy. Christy learned to read by age 7 and
write by holding a chalk or pencil with his left foot. He wrote his autobiography My
Left Foot.
{43}
BYRON Lord, 1788-1824, (epilepsy),
He was the most colorful of the English poets. He inherited the (George Gordon Byron)
title Lord Byron at the age of 10 upon the death of his great uncle.
{85}
BUCHWALD Art, 1925-present, (bipolar disorder),
Writer and humorist American newspaper columnist who specializes in political and social
satire. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1982.
{85}
BUDDHA [Siddhartha Gautama],563BC-483BC, (epilepsy),
Indian philosopher and founder of Buddhism c.528 BC. Renounced world at age 29 to search
for solution to human suffering. The word Buddha means Enlightened One.
{12,27,85}
BURKE Chris, 1965-present, (developmental disability)
Actor. Chris was a gentle happy child who loved to meet people. He would watch TV and
learn the lines. Chris enrolled in a theater class for disabled students held near his
school in Pennsylvania. For two years he learned about costumes improvisation and set
design. His work in theater also improved his speech and reading skills. At 21 he started
looking for work. At a workshop he worked with no talking allowed. His mother came to meet
him there and was appalled. He never worked there again. The director Michael Braverman
was seeking young actors with Down Syndrome for a TV pilot. Would Chris like to try out
for the part. The pilot Desperate aired on ABC in September 1987. In 1989 he had
the main role in the series Life Goes On. The show ran until spring of 1993.
{43}
BURTON Richard, 1925-1984, (epilepsy),
Welsh actor who won Tony Award in 1961 for Camelot. Nominated for seven Oscars.
Known for his Shakespearean -stage performances and his collaborations with actress
Elizabeth Taylor to whom he married twice.
{16,26,32}
BURTON Tim, 1958-present, (bipolar)
Artist and Movie Director -American director of off beat movies such as PeeWee's Big
Adventure 1985, Beetlejuice 1988, Batman 1989.
{4}
BUTLER Beverly, 1932-present, (visual impairment),
Born with cataracts in both eyes and later developed glaucoma. Her first book was a young
adult novel called Song of the Voyageurs 1955. In 1964 her most popular book was
published and entitled Light a Single Candle. She continues to write historical
novels for young adult fiction readers.
{43}
CALLAHAN John, 1951-present, (quadriplegia),
Cartoonist and activist. Many of Callahan's cartoons view ordinary situations from
disabled people's perspective. In a series of cartoon strips called How to Relate to
Handicapped People, he spoofs the awkwardness many people feel when meeting a person
with a disability. He also pokes fun at doctors, lawyers, criminals and cops, movie stars
and politicians. His autobiography Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot!,
{43}
CAMPANELLA Roy, 1921-1993, (spinal cord injury),
In 1948 he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. He won the league's Most Valuable Player Award in
1951, 1953 and 1955. Due to an icy storm in January 1958 while driving home his car hit a
patch of ice and skidded off the road. The accident left Roy a quadriplegic from the neck
down. Roy was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
{43}
CAMPEAU Robert, 1924-present, (bipolar)
Canadian financier, real estate executive developer, founder Campeau Construction Co. 1953
executed hostile takeover of Allied Stores Corp 1986 and Federated Department Stores 1988.
{4}
CANNELL Stephen, 1943-present, (learning disability)
American television producer, writer, creator and producer of many successful series.
{4}
CAPOTE Truman, 1924-1984, (communication disorder),
Author of Breakfast at Tiffany's filmed 1961. American writer who made an
impressive literary debut at 24 with his novel Other Voices Other Rooms.
{12}
CARROLL Lewis [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], 1832-1898, (epilepsy),
Mathematician and author of Through the Looking Glass and Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland. It wasn't until 20 years after these writings that he was actually
diagnosed with epilepsy following a convulsive seizure in 1886.
{12,27}
CAVETT Dick [ Richard Alva Cavett], 1936-present, (bipolar)
American entertainer who won 3 Emmy's for ABC's Dick Cavett Show 1968-1972. hosted
PBS' The Dick Cavett Show for five years, wrote Cavett 1974.
{4}
CEASAR Julius, 100-44 BC, (epilepsy),
Roman General and Statesman. Julius Caesar's seizures are well documented. He told others
that during his seizures he received messages from the Gods.
{27}
CHAMBERLIN Judi, 1944-present, (mental illness)
Disabilities activist. Following the loss of her baby, she became distressed, withdrawn
from friends and family. She willingly entered a psychiatric hospital thinking this would
help her out of her current mental situation. After 6 months she realized that all she was
getting was treatment via medication and the drugs made her lethargic and confused. She
also had no legal rights. Her clothes and belongings were taken from her-supposedly for
safe keeping. When she failed to improve at the private hospital, she was told she would
have to be transferred to a state hospital. She was horrified. She got permission to make
phone calls and contacted the Legal Aid Society and the American Civil Liberties Union. No
one wanted to hear her story. After 60 days she was discharged from the state hospital. By
1991 she joined an organization called Mental Patients Liberation Project which questioned
the very existence of mental illness. As a member she wrote articles and appeared on radio
talk shows. In Boston she co-founded a group called Mental Patients Liberation Front.
Author of On Our Own Patient-Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health System
1978.
{43}
CHARLES Ray [Ray Charles Robinson], 1930-present, (visual
impairment),
Singer and composer. Blind by age seven due to glaucoma.
{33}
CHER [Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre], 1946-present, (learning
disability)
Her success in music, movies, television, and on stage over nearly four decades qualifies
her as one of the most enduring entertainers of our time.
{77}
CHRISTIE Agatha, 1890-1976, (mental illness)
English mystery writer Queen of Crimes. Play Mousetrap longest running in
British history. Created detectives Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, mysteries sold over 100
million copies.
{4,16}
CHURCHILL Winston Sir, 1874-1965, (bipolar)
Became one of the greatest statesman in world history. He was Prime Minister of Great
Britain during World War II. He also was a noted speaker, author, painter, soldier, and
war reporter.
{54,61,85}
CLAIBORNE Loretta, 1953-present, (developmental disability)
Champion long-distance runner. First person with mental retardation to serve on the
Special Olympics International Board of Directors. She is believed to be the first person
with mental retardation ever awarded an honorary doctoral degree.
{16}
CLARKE John Louis, 1881-1970, (hearing impairment),
His Indian ancestry and environment led him to his fame in wood carving. His father was
half Blackfeet Indian and known as Chief Stand Alone and his mother was full blooded
Blackfeet and known as First Kill. At 2 years of age he had a severe attack of scarlet
fever which left him deaf. He liked to carve in cottonwood and his favorite two animals to
carve were bears and goats. He also modeled in clay, painted in oil and watercolor and
drew in crayon and charcoal. He was known among American sculptors as The Bowie Knife
Sculptor. His best medium was wood.
{30}
CLELAND Max, 1942-present, (amputee),
Senator from Georgia and former director of the Veterans Administration. Lost both legs
and an arm in Vietnam and has used a wheelchair since 1974. Known as Joseph Maxwell
Cleland.
{74}
CLIFFORD Max, 1943-present, (epilepsy),
Max left school at the age of 15. He has become one of Britain's successful public
relations consultants. In the 1960's he worked for EMI records press office and handled
the Beatles. He has since gone on his own and represents many famous people in the world.
Such as Mohammed Ali,, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brandon, Bee Gees and other rock groups and
famous people.
{26}
CLIGNET Marion, 1962-present, (epilepsy),
Cyclist, 1996 Olympic silver medal winner. The road to an Olympic medal began when she
lost her US Driver’s License her first known seizure while she was driving a car.
{27}
CLINTON William Jefferson, 1946-present, (hearing impairment),
42nd President of the United States wears hearing aids.
{85}
CLOONEY Rosemary, 1928-present, (bipolar),
American actress, singer. Had million-selling single Come On in My House 1951.
{4}
COELHO Tony, 1942-present, (epilepsy),
Member of Congress in 1990. He was one of the driving forces behind the passage of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Chairman of the President's Committee on Employment
of People with Disabilities. President Clinton appointed him as Vice-Chair of the National
Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities.
{26}
CONDON Richard, 1915-1996, (speech impairment),
American author who wrote The Manchurian Candidate 1959, Prizzi's Honor
1982.
{4}
COPPOLA Francis Ford, 1939-present, (physical impairment),
American motion picture director, producer, and writer. His best known work are the three Godfather
movies and Apocalypse Now.
{85}
CORNFORTH John Warcup, 1917-present, (hearing impairment),
He was a distinguished scientist and joint Nobel Prize winner for chemistry (1975) was
profoundly deaf from otosclerosis for most of his life. He received his bachelor of
science degree in 1937 and his Master's in 1938. His first research in Australia was on
natural produces from plants, while employed at Mill Hill Research Laboratories 1946 to
1962 he developed his basic approach to stereochemistry of enzyme processes.
Stereochemistry deals with three dimensional architect of molecules an it is in
biochemistry applications where he made his most significant contributions. In 1965 he was
jointly awarded the CIBA Medal of the Biochemistry Society. In 1968 he received the Davy
Medal of the Royal Society. He held two professorships, associate professor of molecular
science at Warwick (1965-1971), and visiting professor of chemistry at Sussex (1971-1975).
He received many honors and awards in addition to the Nobel Prize. He communicated by lip
reading and writing , and he did not practice sign language.
{43}
CORNWELL Patricia, 1956-present, (bipolar),
American novelist, wrote award winning novel Postmortem 1990, best sellers Body
of Evidence 1991, Cause of Death 1996.
{4}
CRONYN Hume, 1911-present, (visual impairment),
Actor who won a Tony Award in 1964 for Hamlet, best known for The Gin Game 1978
with his wife Jessica Tandy. Cocoon 1985 and Batteries Not Included 1987. In
1994 Cronyn and Tandy won the first Tony Award for lifetime theatrical achievement. He is
blind in one eye.
{4,20}
CRUISE Tom [Thomas Cruise Mapother IV], 1962-present, (learning
disability)
Actor. Born in Syracuse NEW YORK. His mother taught children who had dyslexia and other
learning disabilities. She herself had dyslexia as did all her children. At age 11 his
parents divorced and he and his sisters and mother lived in poverty in Kentucky. When he
was 16 his mother remarried and his family moved to Glen Ridge NJ. He auditioned for a
role in his school play and got it. Once he broke into movies other roles followed in
quick succession. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1996.
{43}
DANTE [Dante Alighieri], 1265-1321, (epilepsy),
Italian author was one of the greatest poets of the middle ages. His epic poem The
Divine Comedy ranks among the finest works in world literature. He was considered a
great thinker and one of the most learned writers.
{4,27,85}
DAVIES Marion, 1897-1061, (speech impairment),
Early 20th century American silent movie actress who successfully made the transition to
talkies despite her stuttering. Long-time companion of publisher William Randolph Hearst.
DAVIES Ray, 1944-present, (bipolar),
English singer. Lead guitarist for band formed with his brother Dave 1963 The Kinks.
{4}
DA VINCI Leonardo, 1452-1519, (dyslexia) (epilepsy),
One of the greatest painters and most versatile geniuses in history. He was one of the key
figures of the Renaissance era. He was trained as a painter but he had other interests
that he dealt with over the years. Many of his inventions and scientific ideas were
centuries ahead of his time.
{85}
DAVIS Sammy Jr., 1925-1990, (visual impairment),
American actor, singer and dancer, versatile entertainer for 60 years. His career spanned
vaudeville, stage, movies, recording, night clubs, and television. His last movie role was
in Tap 1989. He was blind in one eye.
{4}
DICKENS Charles, 1812-1870, (mental disorder) (epilepsy),
British author who suffered from clinical depression. Also known for writing A
Christmas Carol which depicted a disabled child Tiny Tim.
{35,39,56}
DIDYMUS The Blind,313 398, (visual impairment),
Celebrated head of the catechetical school at Alexandria. Although he was a lyaman and had
become blind at the age of 4 he memorized great sections of the scriptures and by means of
secretaries dictated numerous exegetical works. He also distinguished himself in the
school of Alexandria which he later headed by his proficiency in geometry and astronomy.
{84,85}
DISNEY Walt, 1901-1966, (learning disability),
American cartoonist, producer. Introduced Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie 1928.
Won 29 Oscars, Opened Disneyland 1955, creating family entertainment empire.
{4}
DOLE Robert, 1923-present, (physical impairment),
World War II exploding shell fractured his spine, shattered his right shoulder. He
returned home, went back to college and earned a law degree. He launched his political
career in 1960 and was elected to the United State Senate in 1968. He later left the
Senate to run for president of the United States.
{43}
DONIZETTI Gaetano, 1797-1848, (mental disorder),
Opera singer suffered from bipolar depression..
{73}
DOSTOYEVSKI Fyodor, 1821-1881, (epilepsy),
Russian author. Had three convulsive seizures as a child and complex partial seizures in
adolescence. His seizures began with a feeling of ecstasy, followed by anguish, then
convulsions. His characters had epilepsy in some of his writing. Wrote novels which were
published after his death Crime and Punishment 1886, The Idiot 1887, Brothers
Karamazov 1912.
{4,12,27}
DRISCOLL Jean, 1966-present, (spina bifida),
Born in Wisconsin and attended a regular school. She could walk with braces but later
required a wheelchair. After high school Jean entered her first road race using a
makeshift wheelchair. After 5 miles and exhausted she quit. Soon afterwards she got a
sponsor and a new wheelchair. Graduated from University of Illinois - BA in Speech
Communication. She entered a wheelchair marathon in 1989 and won a place in the Boston
Marathon. First person to win Boston Marathon six consecutive times. Won silver medal in
1992 Olympic games in Barcelona Spain.
{43}
DUBUS Andre, 1936-1999, (mental disorder),
Wrote several books (short stories). 1996 - Rea Award for short fiction 1997 - finalist
for the National Book Circle Award - Dancing After Hours. Due to an accident he
lost a leg in 1986.
{14}
DUKE ASTIN Patty, 1946-present, (BIPOLAR),
Academy Award winning actress who has bipolar depression. Author of Call me Anna:
A Brilliant Madness.
{43}
DUNCAN Sandy, 1946-present, (visual impairment),
Has one glass eye. Starred on Broadway as Peter Pan 1980. Starred on television show The
Hogan Family 1986-1990.
{14,16,20,32}
DURBIN Deanna, 1921-present, (physical impairment),
Comedian actor who shared a special Oscar with Mickey Rooney 1938, teenage star 1930's -
40's. She has a shortened arm.
{4}
EAST John, 1931-1986, (physical impairment),
U.S. Senator from North Carolina (Republican). Had polio and served from 1981 until his
death in 1986.
{76}
EDISON Thomas, 1847-1931, (hearing impairment),
Prolific inventor who holds the record for obtaining the most U.S. patents. Inventor of
the electric light bulb, phonograph, and the motion-picture projector. Due to scarlet
fever Thomas Edison permanently damaged his hearing in both ears. He was known as the
wizard of Menlo Park.
{43}
EINSTEIN Albert, 1879-1955, (learning disability),
Was one of the greatest scientists of all time. Best known for his theory of relativity.
{85}
EISENHOWER Dwight D., 1890-1969, (learning disability),
34th President of the United States. Leader of the victorious Allied forces in Europe
during World War II.
{85}
EISENREICH Jim, 1959-present, (tourette syndrome),
Played baseball for the Minnesota Twins, later the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the
Philadelphia Phillies and more recently for the Florida Marlins.
{37}
ERSKINE Carl, 1926-present, (autism),
American baseball player, pitcher for the Dodgers 1948-59. Threw two no-hitters 1942 and
1956.
{4}
EULER Leonhard, 1707-1783, (visual impairment),
Swiss mathematician. He became famous for his great output of original mathematics and for
the wide range of subjects he covered. He did most of this work after he lost his sight in
one eye in 1735 and totally blind in 1766. Contributed new ideas in calculus, geometry,
algebra, number theory and probability.
{84,85}