Born to Stand Out 

"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" - Dr Seuss. 

In conjunction with the International Day of Person with Disabilities on 3rd December 2021, DOC2US celebrates the historical events with people with disability who rised to victory despite the odds! 

What is disability? According to WHO, the meaning of disability comes in 3 forms: 

1. Impairment in body structure or function, mental functioning. Examples include loss of limb, vision or memory loss. 
2. Activity limitations including difficulty seeing, hearing, walking or problem solving 
3. Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational activities, and obtaining health care and preventive

Nick Vujicic 

“You are beautiful just the way you are.” - Nick Vujicic

Since birth, Nick Vujicic was born with no arms or legs due to a rare congenital condition, Tetra-amelia syndrome. Despite the odds and challenges, he boldly faced the adversities by focusing his energy on believing his own worth and self love. As an inspiring Australian motivational speaker and a CEO of non-profit company Life Without Limbs, Nick Vujicic has flown to 24 countries to deliver the message of hope, love and the power of Jesus Christ to audiences worldwide. 

Stephen Hawkings 

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. ” - Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking, a renowned theoretical physician, astrophysicist, cosmologist, and scientist was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at 21 years of age. ALS is a neurological condition affecting his brain and spinal neurons, causing him to lose control of voluntary motor function and movement gradually. As he was unable to speak and restricted to a wheelchair, he had to rely on a voice synthesiser and computer by controlling them using his finger. Later on, he had to depend on twitching his cheek muscles after losing control of his hands. Eventhough limited by his physical restrictions, he was determined to not be confined by his circumstances. He has proposed many theories such as The Big Bang and is now known worldwide for his biography shown in the film “The Theory of Everything”. 

Rowan Atkinson

“The older you get, the more you realise how happenstance... has helped to determine your path through life.” - Rowan Atkinson

Mr. Bean, an adored and loveable character played by British actor Rowan Atkinson is a global comedy phenomena. Since young, Rowan Atkinson has had a stutter disability, which gave him a hard time to communicate fluently. While acting, he realised that his stammering disappeared when he was immersed in a character other than himself. Rowan Atkinson has now acted in many famous movies such as Johnny English, Keeping Mum and many more. 

Tom Cruise 

I always look for a challenge and something that's different. - Tom Cruise

The "Mission Impossible" star, Tom Cruise’s journey to stardom was not all dazzling or glamorous. Cruise was diagnosed with severe dyslexia since childhood, and was struggling to study in high school. But he never gave up on his dream to be a performer, and continued to pursue his goal while taking care of his family during their financially difficult times. Nowadays, Tom Cruise is one of the highly demanded and highest-paid actors with his impressive performances in Top Gun and Mission Impossible franchise. 

Paralympics 

Success will come when you are optimistic. Be brave and face life. 

The paralympics held every 4 years is a way of celebrating and displaying the uniqueness and strength of people with disability around the world. The United Nations agreed that sports serve to motivate communities to aim higher visions, beyond any boundaries. The International Paralympics committee also set out these 4 values: courage, determination, inspiration and equality which inspires humanity to embrace differences, fairness, excellence and most importantly, the courage in believing in one’s worth. 

Trischa Zorn 

"...I realised that I did the best I could, and I built my swimming future from that experience. As I grew older, I became more aware that swimming is just one part of the equation in my life. Each time I get in the water to race, it's a new experience. I come away from each race with something positive." - Trischa Zorn 

Blind from birth, Trischa Zorn was born without part of the iris that sees color, causing limited vision and eyes that are sensitive to bright light. But that did not stop her from being one of the most successful Paralympian athletes of all time with 55 medals (41 gold, 9 silver, 5 bronze) in Paralympic swimming. She has since competed in Paralympic swimming for 7 times and broke 8 world records. Now, Zorn is giving back to the sports of swimming by coaching and mentoring other swimmers from beginners to masters.

A Reminder: You can’t blend in when you are born to stand out! 

A WORD FROM DOC2US

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Written by

Ms. Rosamund Koo Wei Xin