Chris Burke

When Chris Burke was growing up he attended summer camps for children with special needs
on Long Island, New York.  He met professional musician twin brothers Joe and John DeMasi
who worked there as music counselors. Burke  became their biggest fan and close friend
and today the three perform a presentation called Everyone Can Be A... Singer With The Band.
They have recorded four albums together and have received numerous awards in recognition
of their contribution to disability awareness. Burke has also been busy acting, appearing on
talk shows,  working for the National Down Syndrome Society as the Editor in Chief of the news
magazine, Upbeat and coauthoring a book about his life called A Special Kind of Hero.
http://www.chrisburke.org/
http://creativeartsandabilities.org/
A Special Kind of Hero

Jim Brady


Jim Brady was appointed to be Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary in
1981 by President Reagan.  However, his service was interrupted on March 30 of that year
when John Hinkley attempted to assassinate the president and Brady received a gunshot
wound to his head.  Since then Brady and his wife Sarah, chair of the Brady Campaign to
Prevent gun Violence,  have spent much time lobbying for stronger gun laws. In 1993 Present
Clinton signed the Brady Bill into law. This bill requires a five day waiting period and background
check on all handguns purchased through licensed dealers.   Brady is involved in several  anti-
violence organizations and is also Vice Chairman of the National Head Injury Foundation and 
the National Organization on Disability.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brady
http://www.bradycenter.org/about/jim.php



Walt Disney

Walt Disney had a learning disability and struggled to read. Nevertheless, he was a huge pioneer
and innovator in the entertainment industry. Born in 1901, Disney had an early interest in art and
sold small sketches when he was seven years old. Instead of doing school work he doodled
pictures of animals and nature. He also demonstrated a knack for acting and performing in school
and local theaters.  The Disney icon Mickey Mouse made his film debut in the world's first
synchronized sound cartoon Steamboat Willy in 1928.  Eventually Disney became the recipient
of  32 personal Academy Awards and founder of the Disney empire.
http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/
http://www.twicegifted.net/ld.htm


Thomas Edison


Thomas Edison was a highly active child who accidentally burned down the family barn before
the age of six. He was partially deaf due to scarlet fever, did not learn to speak until age 4 and
when he did, he annoyed people with loud,  never-ending streams of questions. When his short
tempered teacher called him "addled" his mother removed him from school and taught him at
home where she encouraged his independent thinking, as well as his scientific pursuits.  While
Edison probably had what we today call  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, he managed
to become one of the most famous and prolific inventors of all time. Thanks to Edison we have
the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and the motion picture camera as well as his
improvements upon the telegraph and telephone.
http://www.thomasedison.com/biog.htm
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/edbio.html



Robin Williams

Robbin Williams born in Chicago in 1951, began taking an interest in drama in high school and
soon received notice with his stand-up comic routines.  His career took off when he was cast
as Mork in the show Happy Days and he has since starred in many movies.  Williams, known
for his wild impersonations and improvisational skills, frantic mannerisms and quick changing
characters in his comedy has been  facetiously referred to as "the poster child for ADD". 
Williams and his wife Marsha founded the Windfall Foundation to raise money for different charities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams