No limits: Inspiring quotes from differently abled celebrities

The recent Paralympic Games held in Paris were a moment of great pride for India. With a total of 18 medals, Indian Paralympians proved that limits exist only in the mind. Their achievements not only brought joy to the nation but also sent a powerful message out into the universe, about strength and overcoming adversity.

This spirit of unwavering determination and success is not limited to the Paralympics though. Every day, countless individuals with disabilities are achieving remarkable things, breaking barriers and defying expectations across the world. From entrepreneurs and artists to teachers, scientists and athletes, people with disabilities are challenging societal norms, showing that disability is not a limitation but a different way of experiencing the world. They are proving that with the right mindset and support, there is no limit to what can be achieved.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on December 3rd. This day was established by the United Nations in 1992 to promote the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities and to raise awareness about the challenges they face. On this day, join us and we explore some powerful quotes by famous people with disabilities.

“Recognising and respecting differences in others, and treating everyone like you want them to treat you, will help make our world a better place for everyone. Care… be your best. You don’t have to be handicapped to be different. Everyone is different!” — Lawrence Kim Peek

Lawrence Kim Peek was an American Savant known for his incredible memory. He was said to accurately know the contents of over 12,000 books and was the inspiration for the 1988 movie Rain Man. Peek was born with macrocephaly, a condition in which the nerves that connect the two hemispheres of the brain are missing.

In the quote above, Peek talks about how our world is home to countless communities and minds. The key to happiness lies in accepting and embracing these differences. Every person is unique, with their own abilities, challenges and ways of seeing the world. Peek tells us that true progress comes when we understand and respect the uniqueness of others, whether they have a disability or not. It’s about treating everyone with kindness and seeing the value in each person’s differences.

“I am not a snowflake. I am not a sweet, infantilising symbol of fragility and life. I am a strong, fierce, flawed adult woman. I plan to remain that way, in life and in death.”— Stella Young

Stella Young was an Australian comedian and disability rights activist. She served as the editor of Ramp Up, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s online magazine that focused on disability issues. She also hosted eight seasons of No Limits, a program that explored disability culture on community television. Young was known for her wit, insight and work in raising awareness for the rights of people with disabilities.

She never saw her disability as something that held her back. She rejected the idea that people with disabilities are weak in any manner. In these lines, Young  stated how she never wanted to be seen as delicate—something the society portrays people with disabilities as. Instead, Young described herself as a strong, fierce, flawed adult woman, emphasising on her strength and independence.

“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” — Robert M. Hensel

Robert Michael Hensel is an American Guinness World Records holder for the longest non-stop wheelie in a wheelchair. He was born with the birth defect known as Spina bifida, which damages the spinal cord. Here, Hensel highlights the idea that the real problem is not physical disability, but how society fails to see beyond it. He believes that when we focus only on someone’s bodily condition, we miss the chance to recognise their skills and talents. And it is this overlooking of a human that is the bigger disability, according to Hensel.

“We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way we can bring this about.” — Louis Braille

Louis Braille, the French educator and inventor best known for creating the Braille system of reading and writing for the visually impaired, lost his sight at a young age due to an accident. And yet, Braille went on to revolutionise the way blind individuals could access written language in the future. His innovation opened up a world of education for blind people across the world.

In this line, Braille emphasises on the idea that everyone deserves to be treated with fairness and respect and that, with effective communication, people with disabilities can fully participate in society along with everyone else. He suggests that understanding and connecting with each other is key to equality.

“Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.”— Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is an American singer, songwriter and musician who became one of the most iconic figures of the American music industry. Wonder was blind from birth. He rose to fame as a child prodigy and went on to release numerous successful albums, blending genres like soul, pop and R&B. Wonder’s hits like “Superstition,” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans.

Here, he states that vision goes beyond physical sight; it’s about creativity, passion and impact. His ability to see possibilities in music and life, despite his blindness, shows that vision is not just about using your eyes.

“The world worries about disability more than disabled people do.” — Warwick Davis

Warwick Davis is an English television presenter and actor. An absolute delight to watch on shows like Life’s Too Short, Celebrity Squares and Tenable, his humour and energy bring joy to the screen and audience till date. Davis was born with a rare bone growth disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita but he has proven that it’s not the disability that defines him. His personality, popularity and success does.

Davis, in this quote, points out that the society often worries too much about the challenges of disability; while those with disabilities are more focused on living their lives fully.

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”— Helen Keller

Helen Keller, an American author, disability rights advocate and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States’ highest civilian honours, lost her eyesight and hearing due to an illness when she was 19 months old. Keller is well known for writing 14 books and hundreds of speeches and essays on varied topics like blindness prevention, nature and faith.

In this interesting quote, Keller states that it’s through difficult times that we grow stronger. If everything was easy and joyful all the time, we wouldn’t develop important qualities like bravery or patience. Life’s struggles teach us how to become more resilient.

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”— Stephen Hawking

When we think of brilliant minds, it’s hard to miss Stephen Hawking. He is one of the most brilliant scientists of our time. He faced the immense challenge of living with ALS, a disease that gradually paralyzed him. Despite this, he made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe, black hole and their origins.

In this inspiring quote, Hawking encourages people to never give up, no matter how tough life gets. He reminds us that everyone has the ability to find something they can excel at, even in the face of hardship.

“If I fail, I try again, and again, and again. If YOU fail, are you going to try again? The human spirit can handle much worse than we realise. It matters HOW you are going to FINISH. Are you going to finish strong?” — Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic is an Australian-American motivational speaker. Vujicic has tetra-amelia syndrome, a condition that is characterised by the absence of arms and legs.

Here, the motivational speaker states that despite the challenges life throws at us, it’s our ability to keep trying that truly defines us. Life can be tough, but how we respond and keep moving forward is what matters most.

“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” — Frida Kahlo

The famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was known for her unique and powerful paintings. Her paintings often featured bold colours, surreal elements and self-portraits that reflected her identity. She was deeply inspired by Mexican traditions, her love for nature and her personal life. In fact, Frida Kahlo is celebrated as a symbol of resilience and creativity around the world.

Kahlo faced many challenges in her life, including a severe accident that left her with chronic pain and limited mobility. Despite this, she used art to express her emotions and struggles. In this quote, she speaks to the hidden strength within all of us. She states that we often surprise ourselves by how much we can handle when we push through our hardest moments.

“Once you put everything in the right perspective, even bad times can be an opportunity to refresh your appetite, your desire.” — Alex Zanardi

Alex Zanardi is an Italian athlete and former racing driver who has had a successful career in motorsport, including winning two CART championships. Unfortunately, a terrible accident during a race resulted in the loss of both his legs. Despite this, Zanardi took up handcycling and went on to win multiple Paralympic gold medals.

Here, he encourages us to see setbacks in a positive light. Instead of dwelling on difficulties, Zanardi states that we can use tough times to find new opportunities and reignite our passion for life. He tells us that setbacks and hard times can be a stepping stone to growth and success.

“Go beyond what we can’t do & focus on all the things we can do” — Preethi Srinivasan

Preethi Srinivasan was the captain of the under-19 Tamil Nadu women’s cricket team and led her team to national championships in the 1990s. At the age of 18, she had an accident that left her with a spinal injury. Today, she is a quadriplegic who continues to inspire by focusing on her abilities rather than her limitations.

Her quote reminds us that the key to overcoming challenges is shifting our focus from what we can’t do to what we can.

The words of these talented individuals with disabilities inspire us to push beyond our limits and redefine what’s possible. These quotes spread awareness and inspire us to embrace inclusivity, strength and believe in our potential.