Meet: Famous People
Sometimes kids think that things are just too hard and they could never do it. Kids may think this about themselves, or about people with disabilities. The truth is if kids work hard and stay positive, they can do anything! Below are examples of people who worked hard and accomplished amazing things despite whatever obstacles got in their way. Just remember that kids can do the same thing. Who knows? Maybe you'll be famous one day, too!
Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven was a pianist and composer of music. He had always had some hearing difficulties, but eventually became completely deaf around 1819. He could not just give up his love for music. Instead of playing music, Beethoven put his energy into writing music. Today, he is one of the best known composers of classical music.
Chris Burke
Chris Burke was "Corky" on the television show Life Goes On. As a character with Down Syndrome, Chris opened America's eyes and hearts. He showed everyone that just because he had Down Syndrome did not mean he wasn't talented, funny, intelligent, and good looking. Today he travels the country giving inspirational and educational speeches to young people. Check out the Chris Burke fan pages at http://millennium.fortunecity.com/treearbor/207. Chris works closely with the National Down Syndrome Society. Visit their webpage at http://www.ndss.org/.
Ray Charles
Ray Charles began playing the piano at age five. He went completely blind at age seven, most likely due to a disease called glaucoma. While at a school for blind, Charles dedicated himself to musical studies. At the young age of 15, Charles went professional. Labeled "the Genius," Charles is best known for the emotion he puts into his music. Most of his music is called soul music -- a mixture of gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Charles has received 10 Grammy Awards for his excellence in music.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise may be one of America's favorite actors. No one would know that Cruise battles dyslexia. Though dyslexia makes it difficult to read, Cruise memorizes all those lines that made him famous by using a tape recorder to recite the lines to him. Cruise has starred in movies such as Mission Impossible, Rain Man, and Jerry McGuire among many others. He has been nominated for many awards for his acting. Take a look at a story that shows what it's like to have dyslexia.
Albert Einstein
Einstein attended school in Germany in the 1800's. He was not very successful in his classes. He did poorly in history, geography, and languages. However, he was really good at the violin. He also showed an interest in mathematics and science. He went on to study physics and mathematics for four years. He is best known for the theory of relativity and the mass-energy relation of E=mc².
Helen Keller
A severe illness at the age of 19 months caused Keller to lose her sight and hearing. Helen quickly learned the names of objects. She did this by having someone use sign language and make the sign for the object in her hand so she could feel the shape. Helen learned to speak by placing her fingers on her teacher's larynx to "hear" the vibrations. Helen continued her education, learned to read and write in Braille and became really good at school. She graduated from college in 1904. She later wrote books and made public appearances to teach people about deafness and blindness.
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin is deaf actress who uses sign language. She starred in the movie Children of a Lesser God for which she received a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar for Best Actress - all at the age of 21. Matlin became deaf was she was just a baby because of a disease known as roseola (a form of German measles). Matlin is able to speak, read lips, and use sign language to communicate. Matlin has done a lot to help the deaf community. She was successful in convincing the government to make all companies that make televisions to install a closed-caption chip in the sets. This is what allows viewers to read the words to a television program on the bottom of the screen. Visit Marlee Matlin's homepage at http://www.marleematlinsite.com/.
Curtis Pride
Curtis Pride began his love of baseball by signing up for Tee-ball. After his first game he was sure he wanted to be a baseball player when he grew up. His mother encouraged him. She told him he should not let anyone tell him he couldn't do or be whatever he wanted. Pride had learned to read lips, so he could know what people were saying. In school, Pride had a friend help him when he couldn't see the teacher's lips. Pride played baseball all through high school and college. He first signed with the New York Mets and today, Pride plays for the Kansas City Royals. Pride is the first deaf baseball player in almost 50 years.
Christopher Reeve
Most people know Christopher Reeve as the man who brought the famous comic book character of Superman to life. Reeve starred in both television and movies portraying the famous hero. Remember the famous line, "It's a bird. It's a plane. No. It's Superman!"? Although, Christopher Reeve no longer plays Superman, but he is a super man.. In May of 1995 Reeve was riding a horse and tried to do a jump. The horse got nervous and stopped quickly causing Reeve to fall forward over the horse. He landed head first. The accident left him paralyzed; he was unable to move his body in any way. He could not breathe by himself, either. He had to use a respirator which is a machine to help him breathe. Today, he speaks on behalf of research for paralysis. There is also a book you can read about his story called Still Me.
Franklin Roosevelt
Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. Roosevelt had a disease called polio that caused him to lose the use of his legs. He used a wheelchair throughout his presidency and used steel leg braces when he wanted to stand. He was president from 1933 to 1945. Roosevelt was so well liked by Americans, he was the only president to be elected into office four times! During his presidency, his disability was hidden from the American people. Do you think that would happen today?
Stevie Wonder
Wonder was born in Michigan in 1950 and grew up in Detroit. Wonder has been blind since birth, but was a child prodigy. He showed a strong interest in music at his church as a child. At age 12, he had his first record deal with Motown Records. Not only could Wonder sing, but he could also play the piano, organ, harmonica, and drums. Wonder even wrote most of his music. The name "Wonder" was given to him by the president of Motown Records -- no doubt because his talent was amazing.
|
|
Meet the Kids
Meet Famous People
Meet Siblings
Read about People with Disabilities
|