Accessibility: Unlocking Our Potential

[John Locke]

We’re In This Together: Successful People Who Have Overcome Challenges

In our last installment, the EIT accessibility committee highlighted some
of the different physical disabilities. This week's post showcases just a
few of the many successful people who have overcome the challenges their
disabilities create.

*Scientist:*
*Stephen Hawking* (January 8,1942- March14, 2018)*.* At the age of 21,
Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s
disease. He was told he wouldn’t live to see 25. Yet he battled his
debilitating
disease and refused to let it interfere with his career. For 30 years he
was a full professor of mathematics at Cambridge University, and directed the
school’s Center for Theoretical Cosmology. Hawking received dozens of
honorary degrees. He’s best known, however, for his popular books on
science, such as *A Brief History of Time*. He’s also well known for his
pioneering work in black holes and relativity. He used a single cheek
muscle attached to a speech-generating device to lecture, teach, and
research.

*Athlete:*
*Esther Vergeer *(July 18, 1981- Present). Throughout her childhood, Esther
Vergeer suffered from headaches and other pains. Doctors eventually discovered
malformations of the blood vessels of her spine. Surgery to correct the
problem left her unable to move her legs. As part of her rehab, Esther
learned to play volleyball, basketball, and tennis in a wheelchair. She
went on to win 162 singles and 134 doubles titles in international
competitions, making her one of the most highly decorated Para Athletes
ever.

*Theater and cinema actor:*
*Christopher Reeve* (September 25, 1952- October 10, 2004) is best known
for his performance as Superman in the films of the late 1970s and early
1980s. In 1995 he was competing in an equestrian event and was thrown from
his horse, landing on his head. His spinal cord was damaged. As a result, he
 became a quadriplegic and dependent on a portable ventilator to breathe.
Following his accident, he continued acting and directing, while using his
celebrity status to advocate for those with spinal cord injuries.

*Politician/public servant:*
*Franklin Roosevelt *(January 30, 1882- April 12, 1945).  In 1921,
Roosevelt was a rising star in the Democratic party when polio struck him
and left him with paralyzed legs. Determined that he would walk again so
that he could resume his political career, he set himself a stiff regime of
exercise. He never did achieve his goal of walking. But, urged by his wife
and a close associate, he re-entered public life. At a time when disabled pe
rsons were often sent to asylums, Roosevelt and his insistence on “good
cheer” won the hearts of the voters, who elected him president not once but
four times. Roosevelt led the country through the Great Depression and
World War II. He never ceased to advocate for the disabled.

*For more profiles of people overcoming challenge,
visit disabilityfriendlylv.com
<https://www.disabilityfriendlylv.com/15-inspiring-famous-people-disabilities/>*

*Trivia Answer:*
*What type(s) of accommodations are required by the ADA?*

A) Physical accommodations, such as handicapped parking spaces and
accessible facilities.
B) ATM accommodations, such as meeting height and reach requirements and
providing speech output.
C) Communication accommodations: for example, acceptance of calls through
relay services and accessible websites.
*D) All of the above*
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