Each of these “disabled celebrities”, along with countless others, were once thought of as “caged” by their disability. But they had teachers who cared, who recognized their abilities, who applauded them warmly from the wings. They were once “special children” who, with the help of someone who loved them, taught them, mentored them, became – if you will – “special disabled celebrities.” Their teachers played a large part in helping these “caged birds” to sing. Poet, actor and playwright Neil Marcus has dystonia and describes himself as a “fantastic spastic”. He challenged conventional ideas about disability in his play, Storm Reading, voted one of Los Angeles’ top ten plays of 1993. Harvey Jackins was the teacher that influenced him the most.

“The caged bird sings with a fearful trill” *

Helen Keller was blind, deaf and mute. Then “miracle worker” Anne Sullivan became her private teacher and changed her life forever. Helen Keller became an American author, political activist, and lecturer – the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

“of things unknown but longed for still” *

Albert Einstein, thought to have Asperger’s syndrome, developed his Special Theory of Relativity with his famous equation “e = mc2”. He unlocked mysteries of the Universe previously unknown. But he had help along the way. As a student in the University of Zürich, his German mathematics teacher, Herman Minkowski, had a major influence on his ideas.

“and his tune is heard on the distant hill” *

Andrea Bocelli is perhaps the greatest singer in the world. Celine Dion once said, “If God could sing, He would sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli.” Blind since the age of 12, someone always guides him on stage to the waiting microphone – always to uproarious applause. Famous Italian tenor Franco Corelli was not only his friend and mentor, but his teacher. Click to hear Bocelli now!

“for the caged bird sings of freedom.” *