This article was written by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Sercan Erçin and is based on clinical experience. A specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery; prepared in accordance with current medical literature and personal surgical data. A consultation is recommended before making any medical decisions.
Throughout history, the contributions of people with disabilities have shaped the world in ways that are Over the years, individuals with disabilities have played roles in society that are quite inspiring, and the world has been a better place thanks to them. They have excelled in all facets of human endeavor, including scientific research, creative and performing arts, writing, politics, athletics and others.
This is where these people are not only remarkable because of what they have accomplished but also because of how they accomplished it despite the many obstacles they have faced in terms of physical and mental disabilities. This blog is dedicated to these heroes who prove that everyone is capable of achieving great things despite the adversities.
For those who may define success in terms of the more conventional measures, the achievements of individuals with disabilities serve as a wise and necessary corrective. Be it blindness, deafness, physical restrictions or neurological impairments, these people have defied expectations and shown that nobody should be underestimated based on their disability. Rather, it is their determination, hard work, and creativity that make them icons.
It is a joy to observe the current trends and developments regarding the integration and accommodation of people with disabilities in society. However, this progress would not have been possible without the pioneers who led the way. From Helen Keller, who fought for the rights of the deaf-blind people and still remains an inspiration to many, to Stephen Hawking, whose mind overcame the disease to help us understand the universe—their stories tell us that nothing is impossible.
This blog post is dedicated to the biographies of famous people who struggled with certain diseases and became successful, such as John Nash, who had schizophrenia and became a Nobel Prize winner in mathematics, and Frida Kahlo, who painted the most beautiful paintings while experiencing chronic pain.
We will also enter the sports arena with motivational sportsmen like Alex Zanardi, who transformed a personal tragedy into a Paralympics victory, and Andrea Bocelli, a man who became one of the famous opera singers in the world despite losing his sight. Read on!
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Stephen Hawking
Theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, who suffered from ALS, helped to change the way we look at black holes and the universe even though he was almost completely paralyzed.
Frida Kahlo
Artist, Frida Kahlo painted the pain she got from a severe bus accident and other chronic illness in her surrealism paintings and showcased strength through art.
Nick Vujicic
Nick Vujicic, a motivational speaker, was born with tetra-amelia syndrome which is a condition that does not have limbs and he has been able to change the lives of many people.
John Nash
John Nash, a schizophrenic mathematician, contributed significantly toward the field of game theory and got a Nobel Prize in 1994.
Michael J. Fox
While suffering from Parkinson’s disease Michael J. Fox remains active in his acting career and also established a large foundation for Parkinson’s research.
Andrea Bocelli
The italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is one of the most famous singers in the world even though he became blind at the age of twelve.
Helen Keller
Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind, is well known in the world as a graduate of college and an activist for disabled people’s rights.
Alex Zanardi
In car racing accident, Alex Zanardi lost both his legs but after that he stood as a champion in Paralympic handcycling and showed the world how strong he is.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an American president who suffered from polio disease but that did not stop him from leading the United States of America during the great depression and second world war.
Stevie Wonder
Born blind, Stevie Wonder has received numerous Grammy Awards and has used his music to speak for the change of social justice.
Aaron Fotheringham
A baby with spina bifida Aaron Fotheringham is an extreme wheelchair athlete, who performs impressive tricks and acrobatics on ramps and half-pipes all over the world.
Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven is perhaps one of the greatest composers of all time and created most of his works while he was still unable to hear.
Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve an actor known for his role in Superman became the leading spokesperson for spinal cord injury research after a riding accident that paralyzed him.
Marlee Matlin
Deaf actress Marlee Matlin conquered the world, won an Academy Award for her role in the movie Children of a Lesser God, and became an advocate for the deaf.
Ralph Braun
Ralph Braun, an inventor, and wheelchair user, designed the first accessible van which transformed the means of transport for millions of people.
John Hockenberry
John Hockenberry is no doubt a very famous journalist who uses a wheelchair and has been honored with four Emmys among other awards to mention but a few.
Albert Einstein
Even though we cannot speak of Albert Einstein’s dyslexia and ADHD as a definite diagnosis, this genius of the twentieth century revolutionized modern physics with his theory of relativity.
Esther Vergeer
Esther Vergeer, a Dutch wheelchair tennis player was unbeatable in her career and had won over 700 matches and several Paralympic medals.
Louis Braille
Born as a blind person, Louis Braille came up with the Braille system which has brought a lot of change in the education and communication of the blind people all over the world.
Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage, a dwarf, played the character Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones and won an Emmy for his role and thus set a precedent for people with disabilities.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Paralympic wheelchair racer Tanni Grey-Thompson is a winner of 11 gold medals in her career and now fights for disability rights in the UK parliament.
Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin, an autism activist, and animal behaviorist revolutionized the livestock industry with the use of her humane inventions and also fighting for the autism cause.
Dr. Burak Sercan Reconstructive Ops Gallery
This content was written by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak Sercan Erçin in line with clinical experience and current medical literature. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. A personal consultation with Dr. Erçin is recommended for individual assessment.
Faculty Member · Bahçeşehir University
Graduate of Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erçin completed advanced fellowships at Tampa General Hospital (USA) under Dr. Deniz Dayıcıoğlu in breast reconstruction and burn surgery, and at the clinic of Dr. Pedro Cavadas in Valencia, Spain in reconstructive microsurgery. After passing the EBOPRAS examination in 2018, he joined Bahçeşehir University as a faculty member and continues his private practice on Bağdat Avenue, Istanbul, specialising in face, breast and body aesthetics alongside complex reconstructive surgery.
