Blinded at age 3, at age 15 Braille invented a system of reading using raised dot patterns that is used the world over today.

Severely hearing impaired from childhood, Edison was a master inventor whose inventions include the electric lightbulb, the phonograph, and the motion-picture projector.

Hearing impaired as a young adult, Low founded the Girl Guides to give young women the opportunity to learn new skills and participate in useful activities. The organization grew into the International Girl Scouts.

Disabled at birth by athetoid cerebral palsy he eventually gained some mobility and learned to write using his foot. His autobiography My Left Foot became an instant success and was followed by Down All the Days, A Shadow on Summer and Wild Grow the Lilies; he was also an accomplished painter.

Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at age 21 he was given two years to live. Three years later he graduated with his PhD from Cambridge University and is one of today's great physicists.

Diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy she went on to become the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, including being re-elected twice. She is an advocate for developing job opportunities and solving problems through community action.

Blind since birth he won five grammys in 1974 for You Are the Sunshine of My Life; he continues to be one of the world's most popular vocal musicians.

Born with spina bifida she broke the world's record in the women's wheelchair category in the Boston Marathon in 1990, and went on to be the first person ever to win the Boston Marathon six consecutive times.

Born without a right hand he achieved a distinguished athletic career as a pitcher for Team USA for the Pan-American games, the California Angels, the White Sox; and ensured his place in the Baseball Hall of Fame by pitching a no-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1993.

Hearing impaired since birth she became the first person with a disability to become Miss America in 1995.