Famous People with Disabilities: A list of Actors, Authors, Entrepreneurs, and Advocates Living with a Disability - Share Your Story
This is a list of famous individuals who lived with conditions that may have qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Whether or not they personally filed for benefits, their legacies remind us that disability doesn’t define a person’s worth—and that advocacy, visibility, and courage can help shape a more inclusive and supportive world for everyone navigating the challenges of disability, including those working through the complex SSDI process.
These celebrity-inspired stories will be explored more in-depth during upcoming posts, but what we really want to hear—and what others want to hear—is your story. We invite you to share your personal journey. Tell us about your life living with a disability: your feelings, your pain, your challenges and changes, and your tips and words of wisdom for others. It can be a story about your painful journey through cancer, or it can be just a short tip on how you made mornings more enjoyable by changing up your morning routine to accommodate your disability. Maybe you need to share your story on how hard it was to just get out of bed. People need to hear from you—whether or not you filed a claim for SSDI. Your story helps others. Submit your story about living with a disability and help build a community of support, hugs, tears, joy, accomplishments, tips for daily living, and inspiration.
🎭 Entertainers and Artists
Marlee Matlin – Deafness (SSA Blue Book 2.10)
Academy Award-winning actress and advocate for the deaf community.
Steve Way – Muscular Dystrophy (SSA Blue Book 11.13)
Actor and comedian, known for Ramy and disability advocacy.
Ryan O'Connell – Cerebral Palsy (SSA Blue Book 11.07)
Writer, actor, and creator of Special.
Danny Woodburn – Dwarfism (musculoskeletal SSA Blue Book 1.0)
Actor known for Seinfeld; advocate for disability representation.
Greg Walloch – Cerebral Palsy (BLUE BOOK 11.07)
Comedian and monologist known for autobiographical performances.
Prince – Epilepsy (SSA Blue Book 11.02)
Music icon who spoke about his childhood epilepsy and overcame early health challenges.
Selma Blair – Multiple Sclerosis (SSA Blue Book 11.09)
Actress who publicly shares her journey with MS, inspiring millions.
RJ Mitte – Cerebral Palsy (SSA Blue Book 11.07)
Actor from Breaking Bad; advocate for authentic disability portrayal.
Geri Jewell – Cerebral Palsy (SSA Blue Book 11.07)
Trailblazing actress from The Facts of Life.
Stevie Wonder – Blindness (SSA Blue Book 2.02)
Legendary musician born blind; advocate for equality and inclusion.
Helen Keller – Deafblindness (SSA Blue Book 2.02 & 2.10)
Renowned author, activist, and the first deafblind person to earn a college degree.
✍️ Authors and Advocates
Judith Heumann – Polio Survivor (SSA Blue Book 11.11)
Pioneer of the disability rights movement; co-architect of the ADA.
Keah Brown – Cerebral Palsy (SSA Blue Book 11.07)
Author and creator of #DisabledAndCute.
Alice Wong – Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SSA Blue Book 11.00, 11.22)
Founder of the Disability Visibility Project.
Sheila Black – X-Linked Hypophosphatemia (SSA Blue Book 10.00)
Poet and co-editor of Beauty Is a Verb.
Nadina LaSpina – Polio Survivor (SSA Blue Book 11.11)
Activist and author of Such a Pretty Girl.
Gabriela Brimmer – Cerebral Palsy (SSA Blue Book 11.07)
Mexican author who typed with her foot; activist for disability rights.
💼 Entrepreneurs and Executives
Tiffany Yu – Brachial Plexus Injury (SSA Blue Book 1.0, 11.0)
Founder of Diversability; advocate for disability inclusion.
Keely Cat-Wells – Chronic Illness (SSA Blue Book 3.0, 4.0, 11.0, 14.0)
Founder of C Talent; champion for disabled artists in media.
Collette Divitto – Down Syndrome (SSA Blue Book 10.0, 12.0)
Founder of Collettey’s Cookies; advocate for inclusive employment.
🏛️ Historical Figures
Franklin D. Roosevelt – Polio Survivor (SSA Blue Book 11.11)
32nd U.S. President; founded the March of Dimes; led America through the Great Depression and WWII.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for medical questions. Consult with a licensed attorney for legal advice. This article does not create an attorney-client or doctor-patient relationship.
AI Ethical Statement: This article includes information sourced from government health websites, reputable academic journals, non-profit organizations, and generated with AI. A human author has substantially edited, arranged, and reviewed all content, exercising creative control over the final output. People and machines make mistakes. Please contact us if you see a correction that needs to be made.
