Heather Whitestone

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Heather Whitestone

The new Miss America for 1995 is...(drum roll)...Heather Whitestone of Birmingham, Alabama!

There she is...Miss America. But unlike other Miss America crown holders, Heather never actually heard those words in 1995 as she was crowned. Miss Whitestone was the first person with a disability ever to be selected as Miss America. Heather had been deaf since the age of 18 months. Doctors told Heather’s parents that she would never read beyond the third grade level, nor learn to speak. In response to the judges’ question about her aim in life, she replied that she would like to assist children from all backgrounds to reach their fullest potential in life, to set high goals, and achieve them, as she had done. Heather’s special talent for the Miss America talent portion of the contest was ballet.

Heather Whitestone is currently the spokesperson for the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation and the Starkey Hearing Aid Foundation. She has also authored a book entitled, Listening with My Heart. Ms. Whitestone is a motivational speaker who believes in and promotes following your dreams. She is now married and expecting her second child in 2001.

In 2002 she decided to have a cochlear implant operation in order to hear more fully in her right ear. The primary motivator for electing the surgery was an incident when she did not hear her son's cries for help. She said that she has not regretted her decision, thanking her family for supporting her.

Marla Runyan

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Marla Runyan

One of the women representing the United States in the 1500 meter track event at the 2000 Olympics was Marla Runyan.  The American runner finished seventh in her preliminary heat and rose to sixth in the semifinals to qualify for the finals.   During the final race, Marla lost track of the major competitors.  She finished in eighth position, 3.20 seconds behind the gold medal winner.

In 1996, Marla set several track and field records at the Paralympics in Atlanta, Georgia.  Following that success, Marla wanted to compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney -- even though she is legally blind.  The 31-year-old runner has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease.  This is a condition that leaves her with a limited ability to see what is in front of her.  In Sydney, Marla became the first legally blind athlete to compete in an Olympics.

Patricia Polacco

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco is a writer and illustrator of children's books.  She did not start writing children's books until she was 41 years old!  Patricia majored in Fine Art and received her Ph.D. in Art History.  Ms. Polacco now lives on an old historical farmstead in Union City, Michigan.  She named her farmstead Meteor Ridge.  You can read all about the meteor that landed in Ms. Polacco's grandparents' yard by reading her book Meteor.  For more information on this and other books Ms. Polacco has written, visit her website at http://www.patriciapolacco.com/.

The unique thing about Patricia Polacco is that she has been writing children's books even after she was diagnosed as having Dyslexia, Dysnumeria and Dysgraphia at the age of 14.  Patricia did not learn to read well until after she was 14 years old.  A teacher was able to get the additional help Ms. Pollaco needed to overcome her reading problems!  Ms. Pollaco has written a book about her experiences and this teacher who helped her.  The book is titled Thank You, Mr. Falker.  You can find information about this book at the website mentioned above.  Enjoy!

Itzhak Perlman

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Itzhak Perlman

Perlman began his music career at the Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv, Israel. In 1958, at the age of 13, Itzhak Perlman won an Israeli talent competition. This win made it possible for Perlman to travel to the United States to tour and appear on television. He then stayed in the U.S. and continued his musical training at the Juilliard School in New York City. In 1964, Perlman won a contest among young musicians known as the Leventritt Competition. Winning this competition opened the door for young Perlman to perform his violin music all over the world.

Itzhak, now an acclaimed violinist of his generation, has performed with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals the world over. In 1986, he received the nation’s Medal of Liberty from U.S. President Ronald Reagan. His joy of making music has captivated audiences and has achieved Perlman a level of respect and admiration among people of many nations. Great violin concertos make up the core of Perlman’s recorded music, ranging from the baroque to the contemporary. Perlman is also featured in the hit movie Music of the Heart.

Born (1945) in Tel Aviv, Israel, Itzhak Perlman contracted polio at age 4, permanently paralyzing his legs. He performs his music while seated and walks with crutches. Itzhak is a well known advocate for people with disabilities, actively promoting laws to ease access to buildings and transportation.

Terence Parkin

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Terence Parkin

Many swimmers competed in multiple events during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.  One of them was Terence Parkin of South Africa.  Terence's events included the 200 and 400 meter individual medley, the 4x100 meter free relay, and the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke.  He swam in a total of eight different qualifying and final races in five days during the Olympics.  Terence finished fifth in the 400 meter individual medley.  In the 200 meter breaststroke, he finished second to win the silver medal.

What makes this 20-year-old Olympic swimmer somewhat unique is that he has never been able to hear a race starter's signal.  Born deaf, Terence uses a strobe light similar to a camera flash to signal the beginning of the race.  The Olympic competitor only began swimming at age 14.  Now he holds three national records in South Africa and owns a silver medal from the Sydney Olympics.

Geri Jewell and Marlee Matlin

PERSONS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF THEIR DISABILITY

Geri Jewell and Marlee Matlin

Geri Jewell is an actor and comedian born with cerebral palsy. She is most famous for her roles on The Facts of Life and HBO's Deadwood. Geri was awarded a National Rehabilitation Hospital Victory Award in 2006 and also works as a motivational speaker. Visit her website at http://www.gerijewell.com/.

Marlee Matlin is a stand-up comedian and an actress. Some of her films include Dead Silence, It's My Party, Hear No Evil, Bridge to Silence, Walker, and Children of A Lesser God. In 1987, she captivated the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film Children of a Lesser God.

Marlee Matlin became deaf in infancy due to Roseola infantum.

Henry Holden

PERSON WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL INSPITE OF DISABILITY

Henry Holden

From the time he was a young child, Henry Holden’s dream was that of becoming an actor. To date Henry has numerous acting credits to his name. He has made appearances on T. J. Hooker, AFTERmash, Hill Street Blues, Knots Landing, Hunter, Dear John, and Kids Incorporated. Henry also starred in a rock video, entitled, "I Got News for You." In addition to acting, Henry is an athlete, stand-up comic, and activist. Henry’s athletic accomplishments include downhill skiing, certified scuba diving, bowling a high score of 196 in league competition, flying gliders and single engine airplanes, riding at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and finishing in the Los Angeles Marathon. Finishing the New York City Marathon is on Henry’s "To Do" list!

Henry Holden contracted polio during the 1952 Epidemic. He was four years old at that time. His disability has never stopped him from pursuing a path of excellence in his life, even though he wears leg braces and uses crutches. In addition to his acting career he now speaks on the guest lecture circuit on college campuses and K-12 schools across the country. Henry is a tireless advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all forms of entertainment and media. He is the founder of Performers with Disabilities for the Screen Actors Guild, and recently, he was the recipient of the very first American Scene Award given by the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Arts for the rock video he starred in entitled I’ve Got News For You. Henry’s motto is "Attitudes are the Real Disability!"

See Henry's web site for more information on this actor, comedian, and athlete: http://www.henryholden.com/.