Exceptional Needs
Marla Runyan (1969-Present)
Marla Runyan was born in Santa Maria, California and at the age of nine she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, which left her legally blind. At a young age, Marla was very athletic. When she lost her sight, she became very dedicated to running. In 1992 Marla won four gold medals in the summer Paralympics. She went on to become the first legally blind American to compete in the Olympic games in Sydney, Australia in 2000. She holds various American records such as 20,000 Road (2003), All-female Marathon (2002), 500m (2001), and Heptathlon (1996). In 2001, Marla served as the first ambassador for Perkins School for the Blind. This same year, she also co-wrote and published her autobiography, No Finish Line: My life As I see it. Today, Marla continues her passion by running in marathons.
Marla Runyan (1969-Present)
Marla Runyan was born in Santa Maria, California and at the age of nine she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, which left her legally blind. At a young age, Marla was very athletic. When she lost her sight, she became very dedicated to running. In 1992 Marla won four gold medals in the summer Paralympics. She went on to become the first legally blind American to compete in the Olympic games in Sydney, Australia in 2000. She holds various American records such as 20,000 Road (2003), All-female Marathon (2002), 500m (2001), and Heptathlon (1996). In 2001, Marla served as the first ambassador for Perkins School for the Blind. This same year, she also co-wrote and published her autobiography, No Finish Line: My life As I see it. Today, Marla continues her passion by running in marathons.
Claudia Gordon
Claudia Gordon was born in Jamaica and became deaf at age eight. Claudia moved to the United States and attended the Lexington School for the Dead in New York, where she dreamed of becoming a lawyer. In high school, Claudia was an advocate for people with disabilities. She graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor degree in political science. Claudia became the first African American deaf female attorney in the United States. She has also served as Vice-President for the National Black Deaf Advocates Association. Claudia went on to serve as the Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Currently, she is a political appointee with the Obama administration serving as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Claudia Gordon was born in Jamaica and became deaf at age eight. Claudia moved to the United States and attended the Lexington School for the Dead in New York, where she dreamed of becoming a lawyer. In high school, Claudia was an advocate for people with disabilities. She graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a bachelor degree in political science. Claudia became the first African American deaf female attorney in the United States. She has also served as Vice-President for the National Black Deaf Advocates Association. Claudia went on to serve as the Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Currently, she is a political appointee with the Obama administration serving as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
Patricia Polacco (1944-Present)
Patricia Polacco is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. She was born in Lansing, Michigan and lived with her mother and grandparents. Her grandmother passed away when Patricia was five, and Patricia and her mother moved to Oakland, California. At the age of 14 Patricia still could not read, and she was diagnosed as having Dyslexia, Dysnumeria and Dysgraphia. She found relief by expressing herself through art. Patricia went on to earn a degree in Fine Art, and get a Ph. D. in Art History. At the age of 41, Patricia wrote her first children’s book, Boat Ride with Lillian Tow Blossom. Some of her other books include; Thank you Mr. Falker, The Bee Tree, My Ol’ Man, and Mr. Lincoln’s Way. Patricia’s newest book, Bully, tackles the issue of cyber bullying, which she feels is a relevant and important issue today.
Patricia Polacco is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. She was born in Lansing, Michigan and lived with her mother and grandparents. Her grandmother passed away when Patricia was five, and Patricia and her mother moved to Oakland, California. At the age of 14 Patricia still could not read, and she was diagnosed as having Dyslexia, Dysnumeria and Dysgraphia. She found relief by expressing herself through art. Patricia went on to earn a degree in Fine Art, and get a Ph. D. in Art History. At the age of 41, Patricia wrote her first children’s book, Boat Ride with Lillian Tow Blossom. Some of her other books include; Thank you Mr. Falker, The Bee Tree, My Ol’ Man, and Mr. Lincoln’s Way. Patricia’s newest book, Bully, tackles the issue of cyber bullying, which she feels is a relevant and important issue today.
Christopher Reeve (1952–2004)
Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, author, husband and father. In 1995 Reeve fell off a horse and suffered a cervical spinal injury that paralyzed him from the neck down. He is the founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation that is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. His foundation founded a new technology device called “Locomotor Training” that uses a treadmill to mimic walking to develop neural connections. This technology has helped many paralyzed people to walk again. After Reeve’s injury he decided since his name was all over the media he would use himself to support people who had spinal injuries. He had become a strong advocate for others with disabilities. Even after his injury, Reeve was filmed in movies, inspiring others to challenge themselves. He spoke to many people, providing encouragement and motivation to deal with their disability and live a productive life. Reeve was truly an inspiration to many people who had similar disabilities and gave many people the hope of a cure for their spinal cord injury.
Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, author, husband and father. In 1995 Reeve fell off a horse and suffered a cervical spinal injury that paralyzed him from the neck down. He is the founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation that is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. His foundation founded a new technology device called “Locomotor Training” that uses a treadmill to mimic walking to develop neural connections. This technology has helped many paralyzed people to walk again. After Reeve’s injury he decided since his name was all over the media he would use himself to support people who had spinal injuries. He had become a strong advocate for others with disabilities. Even after his injury, Reeve was filmed in movies, inspiring others to challenge themselves. He spoke to many people, providing encouragement and motivation to deal with their disability and live a productive life. Reeve was truly an inspiration to many people who had similar disabilities and gave many people the hope of a cure for their spinal cord injury.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
Franklin D. Roosevelt was our 32nd President from 1933-1945. President Roosevelt had polio that resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down. After he became president, he helped to found the national Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as the March of Dimes. March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization in the United States that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. FDR was someone that a lot of people looked up to as a role model. During that period of time, many Americans looked at people with disabilities as individuals who could not do things other people could do and could not be successful in life. Roosevelt helped people to change their views of people with disabilities by the way he held himself as a person, father and political figure. He showed individuals throughout the world, that even though he had a physical disability, he could still be president of the United States. Many people looked up to him as a symbol of perseverance and strength in the American society. Roosevelt was a very inspirational person and his legacy still lives today as people look up to him as a hero and someone to follow.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was our 32nd President from 1933-1945. President Roosevelt had polio that resulted in permanent paralysis from the waist down. After he became president, he helped to found the national Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as the March of Dimes. March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization in the United States that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. FDR was someone that a lot of people looked up to as a role model. During that period of time, many Americans looked at people with disabilities as individuals who could not do things other people could do and could not be successful in life. Roosevelt helped people to change their views of people with disabilities by the way he held himself as a person, father and political figure. He showed individuals throughout the world, that even though he had a physical disability, he could still be president of the United States. Many people looked up to him as a symbol of perseverance and strength in the American society. Roosevelt was a very inspirational person and his legacy still lives today as people look up to him as a hero and someone to follow.
Justin Dart (1930–2002)
Justin Dart is considered the father of ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act. He was influential in getting the law passed in the United States, and was honored by President Clinton with the National Medal of Freedom in 1998. When Dart went on a nationwide tour he brought along his family as well as others that have disabilities to talk to Americans about what they would like to see the government change for people with disabilities. Dart was appointed to lead the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) in the United States. When he was asked to resign from the position he still helped out in the government by pushing for rights of people with disabilities. Dart had to deal with his own health issues. He lived with polio and its complications, along with congestive heart failure. An inspiration to many, Dart left a legacy for advocating and supporting for people with disabilities. He was truly a leader for individuals of all ages who live with disabilities. Justin Dart is celebrated as one of the “founding fathers” of the disability rights movement in America.
Justin Dart is considered the father of ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act. He was influential in getting the law passed in the United States, and was honored by President Clinton with the National Medal of Freedom in 1998. When Dart went on a nationwide tour he brought along his family as well as others that have disabilities to talk to Americans about what they would like to see the government change for people with disabilities. Dart was appointed to lead the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA) in the United States. When he was asked to resign from the position he still helped out in the government by pushing for rights of people with disabilities. Dart had to deal with his own health issues. He lived with polio and its complications, along with congestive heart failure. An inspiration to many, Dart left a legacy for advocating and supporting for people with disabilities. He was truly a leader for individuals of all ages who live with disabilities. Justin Dart is celebrated as one of the “founding fathers” of the disability rights movement in America.