Blindness is not a hindrance to success. Many famous leaders have overcome blindness to achieve great things. The life of a blind or low-vision person is not always easy, but it does not stop them from achieving their goals. Here are some famous people who have either been diagnosed with visual impairment and gone on to lead successful lives despite the difficulties that come with being sightless:
John Milton
John Milton’s life is a perfect example of the power that one can find within themselves even when they face impossible odds. The most famous English poet, he was completely blind by age 43 and continued writing poetry which had been published since 1634 under various names such as “John Mesty” or simply just “Milton.” His works were influential not only for their originality but also because many later writers took inspiration from him – including Winston Churchill! He argued that educating people for specific jobs or purposes was foolish because everyone had the potential for greatness. He wrote several works of poetry and prose, but he is best known for his epic poem “Paradise Lost.” In this work, Milton Tells the story of the fall of man from God’s perspective. Though it was not well-received then, “Paradise Lost” is now considered one of the English language’s most significant works.
Louis Braille
The inventor of the Braille system of reading and writing for the blind, Braille was himself blind. He developed his system in 1824, and millions of people worldwide have used it since then. Louis Braille was born in 1809 in Coupvray, France. When he was just three years old, an accident in his father’s workshop left him blind in both eyes. Braille developed a system of raised dots read by touch, known as Braille. He went on to attend a school for the blind, where he perfected his system of reading and writing. Braille is utilized by millions worldwide who are blind or have low vision today.
Helen Keller
Keller was deaf and blind, but she overcame her disabilities to become an author. Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When she was 19 months old, she contracted an illness that left her deafblind. Keller learned to communicate through sign language and lip reading, but Keller also developed her unique form of tactile communication using finger spelling. She became the first deafblind person to graduate from college and had a successful career advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is a world-famous musician who has won 25 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records. He was born premature, and as a result, he was left blind. Wonder began playing music at an early age and started writing songs when he was just 12 years old. He has gone on to have an incredibly successful career despite his blindness.
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli is an Italian singer, songwriter, and record producer who has sold over 80 million records worldwide. He was born with congenital glaucoma that left him permanently blind in both eyes. Bocelli has released 15 solo albums, including two greatest hits albums. He has won multiple awards throughout his career, including five Grammy Awards, nine World Music Awards, six Latin Grammy Awards, and three Classical BRIT Awards.
Trischa Zorn
Trischa Zorn is a retired American swimmer who competed in five Paralympic Games between 1988 and 2004, winning 41 gold medals, ten silver medals, and four bronze medals. With 41 gold medals, she holds the world record for the most gold medals a female Paralympic athlete has achieved. Zorn was born with a degenerative eye condition that left her completely blind by the time she was eight years old. Despite her blindness, Zorn became one of the most successful athletes in Paralympic history.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is blind in one eye and nearsighted in the other, and he is one of the most successful actors in Hollywood. Fans would never know he had visual impairment, but he said he’s “never had proper vision.”
Blindness does not have to be a barrier to success! Blind Logic illuminates this success by highlighting the life of Ralph R. Teetor. Much like these famous leaders, Teetor proves that anything is possible if you set your mind to it! Although he became blind at age five, Teetor was a visionary in the automotive industry.