Celebrities for whom disability has not become a life barrier. People with disabilities who have achieved success (photo)

10 Outstanding Stories of Disabled People Living full life.

December 3 is marked on the calendar as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to experts, currently over 650 million people have various forms disability. More than 500 thousand people live in Kazakhstan handicapped. And many of them can give odds to any healthy person in the love of life.

We'll tell you incredible stories from the life of the disabled. The hardships and trials they experienced hardened their spirit.

The 22-year-old from Astana, despite his vision of minus 17, successfully performs at international competitions and wins medals and cups for his country. Anuar is a professional swimmer and plans to defend the honor of Kazakhstan at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, for which he is already preparing.

Nick Vujicic was born with Tetra-Amelia Syndrome, a rare hereditary condition that results in the absence of all limbs. Now Nick is one of the most famous and popular motivational speakers in the world, has a beautiful wife and son. And by its very existence gives hope for a normal, full life to thousands of people.

Hawking is born a healthy person, but in early youth, doctors diagnosed him with Charcot's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The disease progressed rapidly, and soon almost all of Hawking's muscles were paralyzed. He is not just confined to a wheelchair, he is completely paralyzed, mobility is preserved only in the fingers and individual muscles of the face. In addition, after the operation on the throat, Stephen lost the ability to talk. He uses a speech synthesizer to communicate.

All this did not prevent Hawking from becoming a world famous scientist and being considered one of smartest people on the planet. But Hawking not only conducts scientific activities in a laboratory away from people. He writes books and actively popularizes science, lectures and teaches. Hawking has been married twice and has children. Despite his condition and venerable age (the scientist is already 71 years old), he continues to conduct social and scientific activities, and a couple of years ago he even went on a special flight with a session of simulating weightlessness.

World-famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 1796 at the age of 26 began to lose his hearing: he developed tinitis - inflammation inner ear. By 1802, Beethoven was completely deaf, but it was from that time that the composer created his most famous works. Beethoven wrote the Heroic Symphony, the opera Fidelio, in addition, piano sonatas from the Twenty-eighth to the last - Thirty-second were composed; two sonatas for cello, quartets, vocal cycle "To a Distant Beloved". Being completely deaf, Beethoven created two of his most monumental works - the Solemn Mass and the Ninth Symphony with Choir.

The Russian has been married to Kazakhstani Anna Stelmakhovich for more than three years. Anna is healthy and could live a full life like everyone else ordinary people, but the girl chose a different life, filled with worries and troubles. But they are pleasant for her, and she tries to do everything with love for the sake of her husband. Grigory has been disabled since childhood. At 26, he weighs only 20 kilograms and is unable to take care of himself on his own. His wife does everything for him, she cooks, cleans, dresses, and washes him. But the couple does not complain about life and endures all hardships with dignity. Grisha works as a system administrator and creates websites, while Anna sells fashion items through an online store.

19-year-old Carrie Brown is a carrier of Down syndrome. Not so long ago, thanks to the active support of her friends and the Internet, she became a model for one of the American youth clothing manufacturers. Carrie began posting photos of herself wearing Wet Seal on her Facebook page. social network, which became so popular that she was invited to become the face of the brand.

This story true love all over the Internet. A veteran of the war in Afghanistan was blown up by a bomb, lost his limbs, but miraculously survived. Upon returning home, his fiancee Kelly not only did not leave her beloved, but also helped him in literally get back on your feet.

New Zealander Mark Inglis conquered Everest in 2006, having lost both legs twenty years earlier. The climber froze them in one of the previous expeditions, but did not part with his dream of Everest and climbed to the top, which is difficult even for ordinary people.

One not so good day, Lizzie saw a video posted on the Internet called "The Most scary woman in the world" with many views and relevant comments. It is easy to guess that the video showed ... Lizzy herself, who was born with rare syndrome, due to which she is completely absent adipose tissue. Lizzie's first impulse was to rush into unequal fight with commentators and tell them everything she thinks of them. But instead, she pulled herself together and proved to the whole world that you don't have to be beautiful to inspire people. She has already published two books and successfully gives motivational speeches.

Irishman Christy Brown was born with a disability - he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors considered him unpromising - the child could not walk and even move, lagged behind in development. But the mother did not abandon him, but looked after the baby and did not give up hope of teaching him to walk, speak, write, read. Her deed deserves deep respect - the Brown family was very poor, and the father did not perceive his son, who was flawed, at all.

Fully Brown managed only with his left foot. And it was with it that he began to draw and write, first mastering chalk, then a brush, then a pen and a typewriter. He not only learned to read, speak and write, but also became a famous artist and short story writer. The movie "Christy Brown: Mine" was made about his life. left leg', written by Brown himself.

December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992.

Miguel Cervantes(1547 - 1616) - Spanish writer. Cervantes is best known as the author of one of the greatest works of world literature - the novel The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha. In 1571, Cervantes, consisting of military service in the fleet, took part in the battle of Lepanto, where he was seriously wounded by a shot from an arquebus, because of which he lost left hand. He later wrote that "by depriving me of my left hand, God made my right hand work harder and harder."

Ludwig van Beethoven(1770 - 1827) - German composer, representative of the Viennese classical school. In 1796, already a well-known composer, Beethoven began to lose his hearing: he developed tinitis, an inflammation of the inner ear. By 1802, Beethoven was completely deaf, but it was from that time that the composer created his most famous works. In 1803-1804, Beethoven wrote the Heroic Symphony, in 1803-1805 - the opera Fidelio. In addition, at this time, Beethoven wrote piano sonatas from the Twenty-eighth to the last - Thirty-second; two sonatas for cello, quartets, vocal cycle "To a Distant Beloved". Being completely deaf, Beethoven created two of his most monumental works - the Solemn Mass and the Ninth Symphony with Chorus (1824).

Louis Braille(1809 - 1852) - French tiflopedagogue. At the age of 3, Braille injured his eye with a saddle knife, which caused sympathetic inflammation of the eyes and made him blind. In 1829, Louis Braille developed the embossed dotted font for the blind, which is still used throughout the world today - Braille. In addition to letters and numbers, on the basis of the same principles, he developed musical notation and taught music to the blind.

Sarah Bernard(1844‑1923) - French actress. Many prominent theater figures, such as Konstantin Stanislavsky, considered Bernard's art to be a model of technical perfection. In 1914, after an accident, her leg was amputated, but the actress continued to perform. In 1922, Sarah Bernhardt took to the stage for the last time. She was in her late 80s and was playing "Lady of the Camellias" while sitting in a chair.

Joseph Pulitzer(1847 - 1911) - American publisher, journalist, founder of the "yellow press" genre. Blind at 40. After his death, he left $2 million to Columbia University. Three-quarters of these funds went to the creation of the Graduate School of Journalism, and the remaining amount was established by the award for American journalists, which has been awarded since 1917.

Helen Keller(1880‑1968) - American writer, teacher and public figure. After an illness suffered at the age of one and a half years, she remained deaf-blind-mute. Since 1887, a young teacher at the Perkins Institute, Ann Sullivan, has been studying with her. In the course of many months of hard work, the girl mastered the sign language, and then began to learn to speak, having mastered the correct movements of the lips and larynx. Helen Keller entered Radcliffe College in 1900 and graduated summa cum laude in 1904. She has written and published more than a dozen books about herself, her feelings, studies, worldview and understanding of religion, including The World I Live In, The Diary of Helen Keller, and others. active life society. Helen's story was the basis for Gibson's famous play, The Miracle Worker (1959), which was adapted into a 1962 film.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt(1882‑1945) - 32nd President of the United States (1933‑1945). In 1921, Roosevelt became seriously ill with polio. Despite years of trying to beat the disease, Roosevelt remained paralyzed and chained to wheelchair. One of the most significant pages in history is associated with his name. foreign policy and US diplomacy, in particular, the establishment and normalization of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and US participation in anti-Hitler coalition.

Lina Po- the pseudonym that Polina Mikhailovna Gorenstein (1899‑1948) took, when in 1918 she began to perform as a ballerina, dancer. In 1934, Lina Po fell ill with encephalitis, she was paralyzed, she completely lost her sight. After the tragedy, Lina Po began to sculpt, and already in 1937 her works appeared at an exhibition at the Museum fine arts them. A.S. Pushkin. In 1939, Lina Po was admitted to the Moscow Union of Soviet Artists. Currently, individual works by Lina Poe are in the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery and other museums in the country. But the main collection of sculptures is in the memorial hall of Lina Po, opened in the museum of the All-Russian Society of the Blind.

Alexey Maresyev(1916 - 2001) - legendary pilot, Hero Soviet Union. On April 4, 1942, in the area of ​​​​the so-called "Demyansky cauldron" (Novgorod region), in a battle with the Germans, the plane of Alexei Maresyev was shot down, and Alexei himself was seriously wounded. For eighteen days, the pilot, wounded in the legs, crawled his way to the front line. Both of his legs were amputated at the hospital. But he, having been discharged from the hospital, again sat at the helm of the aircraft. In total, during the war he made 86 sorties, shot down 11 enemy aircraft: four before being wounded and seven after being wounded. Maresyev became the prototype of the hero of Boris Polevoy's story "The Tale of a Real Man".

Mikhail Suvorov(1930 - 1998) - author of sixteen collections of poetry. At the age of 13, he lost his sight from a mine explosion. Many of the poet's poems have been set to music and have received wide recognition: "Red Carnation", "Girls Sing about Love", "Don't Be Sad" and others. For more than thirty years, Mikhail Suvorov taught at a specialized part-time school for working youth for the blind. He was awarded the title of Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation.

Ray Charles(1930 - 2004) - American musician, legendary man, author of more than 70 studio albums, one of the world's most famous performers of music in the styles of soul, jazz and rhythm and blues. He went blind at the age of seven - presumably due to glaucoma. Ray Charles is the most famous blind musician of our time; he was awarded 12 Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Rock and Roll, Jazz, Country and Blues Halls of Fame, the Georgia State Hall of Fame, and his recordings were included in the US Library of Congress. Frank Sinatra called Charles "the only real genius in show business." In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Ray Charles number 10 on their "List of Immortals" - the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Stephen Hawking(1942) - famous English theoretical physicist and astrophysicist, author of the theory of primordial black holes and many others. In 1962 he graduated from Oxford University and began studying theoretical physics. At the same time, Hawking began to show signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which led to paralysis. After a throat operation in 1985, Stephen Hawking lost the ability to speak. He only moves the fingers of his right hand, with which he controls his chair and a special computer that speaks for him.

Stephen Hawking is currently the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a position held three centuries ago by Isaac Newton. Despite serious illness, Hawking leads an active life. In 2007, he flew in zero gravity in a special aircraft and announced that he intends to make a suborbital flight in a spaceplane in 2009.

Valery Fefelov(1949) - a member of the dissident movement in the USSR, a fighter for the rights of the disabled. Working as an electrician, in 1966 he received work injury- fell from a power line support and broke his spine - after which he remained disabled for life, he could only move in a wheelchair. In May 1978, together with Yuri Kiselev (Moscow) and Faizulla Khusainov (Chistopol, Tatarstan), he created the Initiative Group for the Protection of the Rights of the Disabled in the USSR. His main goal the group called the creation of the All-Union Society of the Disabled. The activities of the Initiative Group were considered anti-Soviet by the authorities. In May 1982, a criminal case was opened against Valery Fefelov under the article "resistance to the authorities." Under the threat of arrest, Fefelov agreed to the KGB demand to go abroad and in October 1982 left for Germany, where in 1983 he and his family received political asylum. Author of the book "There are no disabled people in the USSR!", published in Russian, English and Dutch.

Stevie Wonder(1950) - American musician, singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. Lost my sight in infancy. Too much oxygen was supplied to the oxygen box where the child was placed. Result - pigmentary degeneration retina and blindness. He is called one of the greatest musicians of our time: he won the Grammy Award 22 times; became one of the musicians who actually determined the popular styles of "black" music - rhythm and blues and soul of the middle of the 20th century. Wonder's name is immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Composers Hall of Fame in the United States. During his career, he recorded over 30 albums.

Christopher Reeve(1952‑2004) - American theater and film actor, director, screenwriter, public figure. In 1978, he gained worldwide fame thanks to the role of Superman in the American film of the same name and its sequels. In 1995, during a race, he fell off a horse, was seriously injured and remained completely paralyzed. Since then, he has devoted his life to rehabilitation therapy and, together with his wife, opened a center for teaching the paralyzed the skills of independent existence. Despite the injury, Christopher Reeve last days continued to work in television, film and participate in social activities.

Marley Matlin(1965) - American actress. She lost her hearing at the age of one and a half, and despite this, at the age of seven she began to play children's theater. At 21, she received an Oscar for her debut film, Children of a Lesser God, becoming the youngest Oscar winner in history for Best Actress.

Eric Weichenmeier(1968) - the world's first rock climber who reached the summit of Everest, being blind. Erik Weichenmeier lost his sight when he was 13 years old. Onako he completed his studies, and then he became a teacher himself high school, then a wrestling coach and world-class athlete. About Weichenmeier's journey, director Peter Winter made a live-action television film "Touch the Top of the World". In addition to Everest, Weihenmayer has conquered the seven highest mountain peaks in the world, including Kilimanjaro and Elbrus.

Esther Vergeer(1981) - Dutch tennis player. Considered one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players in history. She has been bedridden since the age of nine, when, as a result of an operation on spinal cord her legs were gone. Esther Vergeer is a multiple Grand Slam winner, seven-time world champion, four-time Olympic champion. In Sydney and Athens, she excelled both independently and in pairs. Since January 2003, Vergeer has not suffered a single defeat, winning 240 sets in a row. In 2002 and 2008 she became a laureate of the " Best Athlete with Disabilities", awarded by the World Academy of Sports "Laureus".

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The RIA Novosti photo gallery is dedicated to those who are faced with big problem managed to find the strength to continue living life to the fullest.

Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot Alexei Petrovich Maresyev, despite his disability, continued to fly. Due to a serious injury during the Great Patriotic War both of his legs were amputated. During the war, Alexei made 86 sorties, shot down 11 enemy planes: four before being wounded and seven after. Maresyev is the prototype of the hero of Boris Polevoy's story "The Tale of a Real Man".

The French actress Sarah Bernard at the beginning of the 20th century was called "the most famous actress throughout history." Sarah achieved success on the stages of Europe, and then toured with triumph in America. Her repertoire included mostly serious dramatic roles, which earned the actress the nickname "Divine Sarah". However, in 1905, while on tour in Rio de Janeiro, Bernard severely injured her right leg, which had to be amputated in 1915. But the "Divine Sarah" did not leave the stage activity: during the First World War, she performed at the front and was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.

The 32nd President of the United States, who led America during the global economic crisis and World War II, as well as the only American president who was elected for more than two terms, Franklin Delano Roosevelt fell ill with polio in 1921 and no longer parted with wheelchair. Without the help of steel tires weighing ten pounds, he could not stand, moved only on crutches, but at the same time he forbade himself to feel sorry for himself, and his environment - to show any sentimentality.

American actress Marley Matlin became the first and only deaf actress to win an Oscar. She received the award for Best Actress in the film Children of a Lesser God. Her subsequent work in film and television earned her a Golden Globe and two more nominations, as well as four Emmy nominations. For career achievements, Matlin was awarded her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ray Charles is an American blind musician who is the author of 70 studio albums and one of the world's most famous soul, jazz and rhythm and blues performers. Ray has won 17 Grammy Awards, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll, Jazz, Country, Blues Halls of Fame, and his recordings have been included in the Library of Congress. Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, Billy Preston, Van Morrison admired his talent. And Frank Sinatra called Ray "the only true genius in show business."

Another American blind soul singer, composer, pianist, drummer, harper, music producer and public figure is Stevie Wonder. Stevie is constantly included in "lists of the best vocalists of all time." He became blind shortly after birth, and at the age of eleven he signed his first contract with the recording corporation Motown Records and continues to perform and record on it to this day.

The famous Dutch tennis player Esther Vergeer fell ill with paraplegia at the age of 8, she underwent a very risky operation. During rehabilitation, the girl learned to play volleyball, basketball and tennis while in a wheelchair. She played basketball at the club level for several years before joining the national wheelchair basketball team. Together with the Dutch national team, Vergeer won the European Championship in 1997. By 1998, the athlete was completely focused on tennis. Vergeer competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics where she won the gold medal in singles and with partner Maaika Smith in doubles.

Italian classical singer (tenor) Andrea Bocelli went blind at the age of 12 after he was hit in the head with a ball while playing football. While still a teenager, Andrea wins several vocal competitions, and also becomes a soloist in the school choir. 1992 becomes a decisive year for the young tenor. Andrea successfully auditions for the Italian "rock star" Zucchero. The demo recording of the song hits Luciano Pavarotti. In 1994, Bocelli made a successful debut at the San Remo Music Festival. Now Andrea is very revered in the US. The average ticket price for his concert is $500.

American theater and film actor, director, screenwriter, public figure Christopher Reeve (pictured left), who gained worldwide fame after playing the role of Superman in the 1978 American film of the same name and its sequels, on May 27, 1995, falling from a horse during a race in Virginia , broke cervical vertebrae and became paralyzed. The doctors could not put the actor on his feet, but saved his life by performing a unique operation. He was paralyzed below the shoulders, could not breathe on his own, and could speak only with the help of an apparatus inserted into the trachea. Since then, he has devoted his life to rehabilitation therapy and, together with his wife Dana (pictured right), opened a center for teaching the paralyzed the skills of independent existence. Despite his injury, Reeve continued to work in television, film and community activities.

If you give up and do not have the strength to conquer the next peak, remember the historical figures and contemporaries with handicapped famous all over the world. To call them disabled is simply not the language. People with disabilities who have achieved success set an example for all of us of courage, resilience, heroism and determination.

World famous personalities

Surprise and inspire numerous stories of people with disabilities. Successful individuals are often known throughout the world: books are written about them, films are made. The German musician and composer, representative of the Viennese school, Ludwig van Beethoven, is no exception. Already being famous, he began to lose his hearing. In 1802, the man became completely deaf. Despite the tragic circumstances, it was from this period of time that Beethoven began to create masterpieces. Having received a disability, he wrote most of his sonatas, as well as the Heroic Symphony, the Solemn Mass, the opera Fidelio and the vocal cycle To the Distant Beloved.

Bulgarian clairvoyant Vanga- Another historical figure that deserves respect and admiration. At the age of 12, the girl fell into a sandstorm and became blind. At the same time, the so-called third eye opened inside her - all-seeing eye. She began to look into the future, predicting the fate of people. Vanga attracted attention for her activities during World War II. Then a rumor went around the villages that she was able to determine whether or not a warrior had died on the battlefield, where the missing person was and whether there was any hope of finding him.

People during World War II

In addition to Vanga, during the German occupation, there were other people with disabilities who were successful. In Russia and abroad, everyone knows the brave pilot Alexei Petrovich Maresyev. During the battle, his plane was shot down, and he himself was seriously injured. For a long time he got to his own, because of the developed gangrene he lost his legs, but, despite this, he managed to convince the medical board that he was able to fly even with prostheses. The brave pilot shot down many more enemy ships, constantly took part in combat battles and returned home as a hero. After the war, he constantly traveled to the cities of the USSR and everywhere defended the rights of the disabled. His biography formed the basis of The Tale of a Real Man.

Another key figure in World War II is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The thirty-second president of the United States was also disabled. Long before that, he contracted polio and remained paralyzed. Treatment did not give positive results. But Roosevelt did not lose heart: he worked actively and achieved amazing success in politics and in the diplomatic field. Important pages of world history are connected with his name: the participation of the United States in the anti-Hitler coalition and the normalization of relations between the American country and the Soviet Union.

Russian heroes

The list of famous personalities includes other people with disabilities who have achieved success. From Russia, first of all, we know Mikhail Suvorov, a writer and teacher who lived in the second half of the 20th century. When he was 13 years old, he lost his sight from a shell explosion. This did not prevent him from becoming the author of sixteen collections of poems, many of which received wide recognition and were set to music. Suvorov also taught at a school for the blind. Before his death, he was awarded the title of Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation.

But Valery Andreevich Fefelov worked in a different field. He not only fought for the rights of the disabled, but was also an active participant in the Soviet Union. Prior to that, he worked as an electrician: he fell from a height and broke his spine, remaining chained to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It was on this simple device that he traveled through the expanses of a vast country, inviting people, if possible, to help the organization he created - the All-Union Society of Disabled People. The activities of the dissident were considered by the USSR authorities to be anti-Soviet and, together with his family, he was expelled from the country. Refugees received political asylum in Germany.

Notable musicians

People with disabilities who have achieved success with their creativity, on everyone's lips. Firstly, this is a blind musician Ray Charles, who lived for 74 years and died in 2004. This man can rightfully be called a legend: he is the author of 70 studio albums recorded in the style of jazz and blues. He went blind at the age of seven due to sudden onset glaucoma. The disease did not become an obstacle to his musical abilities. Ray Charles received 12 Grammy awards, he was noted in numerous halls of the stave. Frank Sinatra himself called Charles "the genius of show business", and the famous magazine Rolling Stone entered his name in the top ten of his "List of Immortals".

Secondly, the world knows another blind musician. This is Stevie Wonder. The creative personality had a tremendous impact on the development of vocal art in the 20th century. He became the founder of the R'n'B style and classic soul. Steve became blind immediately after birth. Despite his physical handicap, he ranks second among pop artists in terms of the number of Grammy statuettes received. The musician was awarded this award 25 times - not only for career success, but also for life achievements.

Popular athletes

Special respect deserves people with disabilities who have achieved success in sports. There are a lot of them, but first of all I would like to mention Eric Weihenmeier, who, being blind, was the first in the world to climb the formidable and mighty Everest. The rock climber became blind at the age of 13, but managed to complete his studies, get a profession and a sports category. Eric's adventures during his famous mountain climb were made into a feature film called "Touch the Top of the World". By the way, Everest is not a single achievement of a man. He managed to climb seven of the most dangerous peaks in the world, including Elbrus and Kilimanjaro.

Another world famous personality is Oscar Pistorius. Having become an invalid almost from the first days of his life, in the future he managed to turn the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern sports. The man, having no legs below the knee, competed on an equal footing with healthy runners, and achieved great success and numerous victories. The Oscar is a symbol of people with disabilities and an example that disability is not a hindrance to normal life including for sports. Pistorius is an active participant in the program to support citizens with physical disabilities and the main promoter of active sports among this category of people.

strong women

Do not forget that people with disabilities who have achieved success in their careers are not exclusively members of the stronger sex. There are a lot of women among them - for example, Esther Verger. Our contemporary - the Dutch tennis player - is considered the greatest in this sport. At the age of 9 due to unsuccessful operation on her spinal cord but she got into the wheelchair and managed to turn the tennis upside down. In our time, a woman is the winner of the Grand Slam and other tournaments, a four-time Olympic champion, seven times she became the leader in world competitions. Since 2003, she has not suffered a single defeat, becoming the winner of 240 sets in a row.

Helen Adams Keller is another name to be proud of. The woman was blind and deaf-mute, but, having mastered the iconic functions, having mastered the correct movements of the larynx and lips, she entered higher education. educational institution and graduated with honors. The American became a famous writer who, on the pages of her books, talked about herself and people like her. Her story is the basis of William Gibson's play The Miracle Worker.

Actresses and dancers

Everyone has people with disabilities who have achieved success. Photos of the most beautiful women tabloids often love print: among such talented and beautiful ladies worth noting In 1914, the French actress had her leg amputated, but she continued to appear on the stage of the theater. Last time grateful spectators saw her on the stage in 1922: at the age of 80, she played a role in the play The Lady of the Camellias. Many prominent artists called Sarah a model of perfection, courage and

Other famous woman, who conquered the public with her thirst for life and creativity, is Lina Po, a ballerina and dancer. Her real name is Polina Gorenstein. In 1934, after suffering from encephalitis, she was left blind and partially paralyzed. Lina could no longer perform, but she did not lose heart - the woman learned to sculpt. She was accepted into the Union of Soviet Artists, the woman's work was constantly exhibited at the country's most famous exhibitions. The main collection of her sculptures is now in the museum of the All-Russian Society of the Blind.

Writers

People with disabilities who have achieved success did not live only in our time. Among them are many historical figures- for example, the writer Miguel Cervantes, who lived and worked in the 17th century. The author of the world-famous novel about the adventures of Don Quixote not only spent his time writing plots, he also served in the military in the navy. In 1571, having taken part in the Battle of Lepanto, he was seriously wounded - he lost his arm. Subsequently, Cervantes liked to repeat that disability was a powerful impetus for further development and perfecting his talent.

John Pulitzer is another person who has become famous all over the world. The man went blind at the age of 40, but after the tragedy he began to work even harder. IN modern world he is known to us as a successful writer, journalist, publisher. He is called the founder of the "yellow press". After his death, John bequeathed the $ 2 million he earned Most of of this amount went to the opening of the Higher School of Journalism. With the rest of the money, they founded the prize for correspondents, which has been awarded since 1917.

Scientists

Among this category there are also people with disabilities who have achieved success in life. What is the famous English physicist Stephen William Hawking - the author of the theory of primordial black holes. The scientist is sick amyotrophic sclerosis, which first deprived him of the ability to move, and then to speak. Despite this, Hawking is actively working: he controls a wheelchair and a special computer with the fingers of his right hand, the only moving part of his body. Now he occupies high position, which belonged to Isaac Newton three centuries ago: he is a professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge.

It is worth noting Louis Braille, a French typhlopedagogue. As a young boy, he cut his eyes with a knife, after which he forever lost the ability to see. To help himself and other blind people, he created a special embossed dot font for the blind. They are used all over the world today. Based on the same principles, the scientist also came up with special notes for the blind, which made it possible for blind people to play music.

conclusions

People with disabilities who have achieved success in our time and in past centuries can become an example for each of us. Their life, work, activity is a huge feat. Agree how hard it is sometimes to break the barriers on the way to a dream. Now imagine that they have these barriers more extensive, deeper and insurmountable. Despite the difficulties, they managed to pull themselves together, gather their will into a fist and take action.

To list all worthy personalities in one article is simply unrealistic. People with disabilities who have achieved success make up a whole army of citizens: each of them demonstrates his courage and strength. Among them famous artist Chris Brown, who has only one limb, writer Anna Macdonald with an intellectual disability, and television presenter Jerry Jewell, poet Chris Nolan and screenwriter Chris Foncheka (all three have childhood cerebral palsy) and so on. What can we say about the many athletes without legs and arms, who take an active part in competitions. The stories of these people should become a standard for each of us, a symbol of courage and determination. And when you give up and it seems that the whole world is against you, remember these heroes and move on to your dream.

It's no secret that in the modern world there is a certain "standard of beauty." And if you want to succeed, to become famous, please live up to that standard. However, it is very pleasant that from time to time there are people who send all these standards and conventions to hell and just go to their goal no matter what. Such people deserve respect.

Winnie Harlow

A professional model from Canada who suffers from vitiligo, a skin pigmentation disorder associated with a lack of melanin. This disease is expressed practically only in the external effect and is almost not treated. Since childhood, Winnie dreamed of becoming a model and stubbornly walked towards her goal. As a result, she became the first girl in a serious modeling business with such a disease.

Peter Dinklage

He is best known for his role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. Dinklage was born with a hereditary disease - achondroplasia, leading to dwarfism. His height is 134 cm. Despite the fact that both of his parents are of average height, as well as his brother Jonathan.

RJ Mitt

He is best known for his role as Walter White Jr. on the television series Breaking Bad. Like his character in Breaking Bad, Mitt suffers from cerebral palsy. Due to cerebral palsy, signals reach the brain more slowly, since at birth his brain was damaged as a result of a lack of oxygen. As a result of his musculoskeletal system and the ability to control their muscles were impaired. For example, the hand twitches uncontrollably. However, this does not in the least prevent the 23-year-old guy from acting in films and producing films.

Henry Samuel

Better known under the alias of Seal. British singer-songwriter, winner of three Grammy music awards and several Brit Awards. The scars on his face are the result skin disease known as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). He suffered this disease as a teenager and suffered greatly because of the scars that appeared on his face. Now the singer is sure that they give him a certain charm.

Forest Whitaker

American actor, director, producer. Winner of Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Emmy awards. He became the fourth African American to win an Oscar for Best Actor. Forest suffers from ptosis of the left eye - congenital disease oculomotor nerve. However, many critics and viewers often note that this gives it a certain mystery and charm. At the same time, the actor himself is considering the possibility of corrective surgery. True, according to his statement, the purpose of the operation is not at all cosmetic, but purely medical - ptosis worsens the field of vision and contributes to the degradation of vision itself.

Jamel Debbouz

French actor, producer, showman of Moroccan origin. In January 1990 (that is, at the age of 14), Jamel injured his hand while playing on the train tracks in the Paris Metro. As a result, the hand has ceased to develop, and he cannot use it. Since then, he has almost always right hand in the pocket. However, this does not in the least prevent him from remaining one of the most sought-after actors in France to this day.

Donald Joseph Qualls

Better known as DJ Qualls, is an American actor and producer. Qualls' most popular role is considered the main role in Edward Decter's Tough Guy. Many who see him in the movies cannot fail to note the unusual thinness of Qualls. The reason for this is cancer. At the age of 14, Qualls was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphogranulomatosis ( malignant neoplasm lymphoid tissue). The treatment turned out to be quite successful, and after two years of fighting the disease, a remission ensued. This episode in his life was the beginning of DJ's activities to support the foundation, which is engaged in the fight against this disease.

Zinovy ​​Gerdt

Magnificent Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, People's Artist of the USSR. In addition to his acting career, Zinovy ​​Efimovich, like many in those days, had to engage in other, not so peaceful activities, he is a participant in the Great Patriotic War. On February 12, 1943, on the outskirts of Kharkov, while clearing enemy minefields for the passage of Soviet tanks, he was seriously wounded in the leg by a fragment of a tank shell. After eleven operations, Gerdt retained the injured leg, which has since been 8 centimeters shorter than the healthy one and forced the artist to limp heavily. Even just walking was difficult for him, but the actor did not give up and did not spare himself on the set.

Sylvester Stallone

A vivid example of the fact that any disadvantage, if desired, can be made into a virtue. At the birth of Sylvester, the doctors, using obstetric forceps, injured him facial nerves. The result is partial paralysis of the lower left side of the face and slurred speech. It would seem that you can forget about an acting career with such problems. However, Sly still managed to break through, choosing the role of a brutal guy who does not need to talk much in the frame, his muscles will say everything for him.