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We started this series on our Social Media outlets that run every Monday. This series features the amazing lives of people who are well-known who also happen to have (or had) a disability of some kind. The emphasis of this and our View From a Wheelchair series is to highlight that people live incredible lives with or without any disability. We all have things to cope with; some are just more apparent. Those things never define who we are. Rather it is what we do in life that matters. Much of what I post is from the internet, so I doubt that I have permission to post photos, but I will post the source when appropriate.

1/27/25

My first “mini-profile” is Dr. Stephen Hawking. Doctor Hawking was one of the most brilliant minds of all-time. He was a “theoretical physicist” whose work explored the universe, “black holes,” and time among many other things. He lived with ALS (AKA “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) for decades and made many of his contributions typing one word at a time on the state of the art Assistive Technology of his era after he lost the ability to walk or speak without assistive devices. He wrote what he claimed was a book “for everyone” called A Brief History of Time. I made several attempts to read it—let me rephrase that—I made several attempts to UNDERSTAND what he wrote, but it was way beyond me. Dr. Hawking’s intellect was beyond genius. However, it was his refusal to give up on his life and his work even as his body continued to function less and less effectively. He was truly the embodiment of one of my favorite sayings: “NEVER give up!” He was portrayed in the 2014 film The Theory of Everything by Eddie Redmayne. Mr. Redmayne won an academy award for his performance, and I personally found the film enlightening.

2/3/25

It is Monday so it is time to feature someone who has lived incredibly well with a disability. Last week Bill Gates acknowledged that he would probably be diagnosed with autism if he was a child today.

2/10/25

MONDAY! Time to celebrate life even under difficult situations. Today we proudly feature Micheal J. Fox, one of my favorite actors. Mr. Fox rose to stardom playing Alex Keaton in the sitcom “Family Ties,” but took off as “Marty McFly,” playing opposite Christopher Lloyd in the outrageous “Back to the Future” series. Mr. Fox was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at 29 years of age, but this did not slow him down. He went on to establish the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which in turn has become “…the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s drug development…” (https://www.michaeljfox.org/michaels-story). The website continues: “After getting the Foundation on a steady course, Michael agreed to return to acting in supporting roles — as long as he could incorporate his PD symptoms into the characters he played.” Thank you, Mr. Fox, for the many years of wonderful characters and more importantly, your dedication and advocacy for those with Parkinson’s Disease and other disabilities.

2/17/25

We start our week this time with the truly amazing and inspirational life of world-renowned classical violinist Itzhak Perlman. Mr. Perlman’s career in classical music is legendary and I recall listening to his albums with my father as I write this. Mr. Perlman always played his masterpieces from a seated position because he had polio as a child. He moved with the aid of crutches but now uses a power scooter. He spoke openly about the challenges that he faces everyday as he travels the world in the article linked below. Thank you, Mr. Perlman, for your grit, determination and beautiful music!

https://www.jta.org/2017/02/15/ny/itzhak-perlman-on-accessibility-challenges-2

2/24/25

Many thanks to UCP for the inspiration for this week’s amazing person. We share UCP’s post about the one and only Ray Charles! Truly amazing.  From UCP National:

United Cerebral PalsyUnited Cerebral Palsy 8,113 followers8,113 followers 4d •

4 days ago

Ray Charles: A Legendary Musician & Disability Advocate

Ray Charles (1930–2004) was a groundbreaking musician whose influence shaped soul, R&B, and jazz. Despite losing his sight at a young age due to glaucoma, Charles mastered the piano and developed a signature sound that blended gospel, blues, and country music.

His talent earned him 17 Grammy Awards and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond music, he was a strong advocate for accessibility and opportunity for people with disabilities, paving the way for future artists with disabilities.

His legacy lives on, proving that talent and perseverance know no limits.

 

3/3/25

Special thanks to my sister for suggesting the person for this week’s Amazing Monday feature. Marlee Matlin is amazing for so many reasons: she made her film debut in Children of a Lesser God in 1986. She was 21 years old and became the youngest actress to with the Academy Award for Best Actress. She is also the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award! According to biography.com: “The youngest of three children, Marlee Matlin was only 18 months old when an illness permanently destroyed all hearing in her right ear, and 80 percent of the hearing in her left ear, making her legally deaf (https://www.biography.com/actors/marlee-matlin).” The article continues: “Matlin’s hard-working parents chose to educate Marlee in their community rather than sending her to a special school. Matlin began learning to use sign language around the age of 5, but her parents struggled. ‘[My parents] learned some sign language to communicate with me, but they raised me with a great deal of love and respect, and it wasn’t easy for them because of who I was—being a girl, being very stubborn, being very strong willed, being very outspoken, and very independent,” Matlin explained to Exceptional Parent magazine.’ People.com (https://people.com/why-marlee-matlin-will-always-advocate-for-the-deaf-community-exclusive-8600671) reports that: “For decades, Marlee Matlin has been using her platform as an Oscar-winning actress to help the deaf and hard of hearing — and she’s not about to stop any time soon.” Children of a Lesser God is now officially on my “watchlist.” Mahalo Ms. Matlin!

3/10/25

Today we turn the spotlight to RJ Mitte III for our Amazing Monday feature. According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJ_Mitte), Mister Mitte was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 3. He is an actor and producer who is perhaps best known for his character Walter White, Jr, in the show Breaking Bad. His character in the also has cerebral palsy. Mr. Mitte has been a vocal advocate in Hollywood for actors with disabilities and was named a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy. Mahalo Mr. Mitte!

3/17/25

It is “Amazing Monday” and today we celebrate none other than the incomparable Ludwig Van Beethoven. Beethoven was certainly one of, and arguably the best, composers of all time. He was reportedly born in 1770, although he claimed to be born in 1772 (https://www.biography.com/musicians/ludwig-van-beethoven). He was apparently raised by an abusive father: “Sometime between the births of his two younger brothers, Beethoven’s father began teaching him music with an extraordinary rigor and brutality that affected him for the rest of his life.

Neighbors provided accounts of the small boy weeping while he played the clavier, standing atop a footstool to reach the keys, his father beating him for each hesitation or mistake (Ibid, Biography). He began to experience issues with his hearing at about 26 year of age (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/guides/deaf-hearing-loss-composing/). He was already an accomplished composer and performer when he began to lose his hearing in about 1796. “Around the age of 26, Beethoven began to hear that ringing and buzzing in his ears. In 1800, aged 30, he wrote from Vienna to a childhood friend – by then working as a doctor in Bonn – saying that he had been suffering for some time: 

“For the last three years my hearing has grown steadily weaker. I can give you some idea of this peculiar deafness when I must tell you that in the theatre I have to get very close to the orchestra to understand the performers, and that from a distance I do not hear the high notes of the instruments and the singers’ voices… Sometimes too I hardly hear people who speak softly. The sound I can hear it is true, but not the words. And yet if anyone shouts I can’t bear it (Ibid, Classicfm.com).”

Yet, some of his most beautiful works were composed as his ability to hear declined. My personal favorites are “Moonlight Sonata,” composed in 1801 (https://www.popularbeethoven.com/9-facts-about-beethovens-moonlight-sonata/,) and “Fur Elise,” composed in 1810 (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/fur-elise-meaning-who-is-elise/). However, his famous 9th Symphony, is considered by some to be his crowning masterpiece, yet “…Beethoven himself never actually heard it (https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/music/symphony-no-9-d-minor/).

Truly “Amazing.”

3/24/25

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. (https://time.com/4593483/pearl-harbor-franklin-roosevelt-infamy-speech-attack https://time.com/4593483/pearl-harbor-franklin-roosevelt-infamy-speech-attack/)” Those immortal words were spoken of course by then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and acknowledged the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawai’i. The world knows that, but remains less known is that President Roosevelt was partially paralyzed in 1921 either by polio or Guillain-Barre syndrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt). He was president from 1933 until his death in 1945. He served almost four terms and was hardly ever photographed standing. He relied on a wheelchair for mobility, but this never stopped him from being one of our most important—even if controversial—Presidents in our history. His policies are now either championed or scorned by modern views, but like him or not, he was President during the end of the depression, end of prohibition, and the entrance of the United States into World War II. Many of his policies are now widely debated, but he did establish one program that millions of Americans rely on: Social Security. He did so with “A View From a Wheelchair.”

 

3/31/25

 It is another Amazing Monday! My thanks again to my sister Susan for the suggestion for this week’s “Amazing Monday” tribute. It is not an easy task to become a Major League Baseball player. According to sportslawblogger.com (https://sportslawblogger.com/what-percentage-of-baseball-players-reach-the-main-leagues.html): “There have only been 20,459 Major League Baseball players, counting every person who played in a single game up to the guy who played the most (2/14/24). It is a truly incredible accomplishment to reach the Majors. There has only been 322 “no-hitters” (single pitcher holding the opponent to no hits for 9 innings) in the Major League archives (https://en.as.com/mlb/how-many-mlb-pitchers-have-thrown-no-hitters-n-2/). Pitching a no-hitter is an awesome accomplishment. Jim Abbott pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees in 1993 against the Cleveland Indians. The fact that he did this WITH ONE ARM makes this a truly AMAZING achievement. Abbott was born in 1967 without a right hand, yet pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988 to 1999 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Abbott). According to a youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR80UQx4FKc) Abbott states that he visited at least one child with a disability on every road trip of his career and continues to provide charity work. I remember watching him pitch. Simply Amazing!

4/7/25

 

It is another “Amazing Monday! This week we feature Bonner Paddock. Who? Oh, Mr. Paddock only climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. That was not enough; he followed that feat up by completing a triathlon. Not any triathlon, the IRON MAN Triathlon in Kona, Hawai’i. What is commonly thought of as the “Toughest Race on Earth” (https://www.explore.com/how-man-cerebral-palsy-climbed-kilimanjaro-and-finished-toughest-race-earth/), it is comprised of a 2.4 mile open ocean swim followed by a 112 mile bicycle race across the Hawai’ian lava desert and culminated in a full marathon run along the coast of Hawai’i’s Big Island (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_World_Championship). Yes, on the same day. In fact, I believe that there is a time limit to qualify as an “official” finisher. Both accomplishments are incredible in their own right, but to attempt BOTH, well, that might require a different adjective. The AMAZING part of the story is that Mr. Paddock has cerebral palsy. You read that right! His book One More Step details his, um, adventures. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Paddock at a speaking engagement in Honolulu many years ago (sponsored in part by UCPA Hawai’i) and found him to be as humble and genuine as he is amazing. He gave me an autographed copy of his book. He told Explore.com that: “As I write about in the book, “one more step” was a phrase that I used to push myself through these challenges I faced.  But in truth, it’s not just limited to mountain climbing or races. CP, of course, is a condition in which muscles, the very building blocks of movement, aren’t communicating with the brain as they should be.  As a result, every step that I take each day requires far more energy, focus, and control, than most people ever have to experience.  Sure, I can think of the phrase “one more step” when I’m climbing a mountain or running a marathon, but on a daily basis, it’s something that I have to think of when I wake up in the morning and first get out of bed.  To me, that’s what the words “one more step” are really about.  They’re words that push me through the biggest of obstacles, along with the smallest.” His OM Foundation raises money for kids with special needs. Amazing.

4/14/25

I am genuinely surprised! I had planned to feature the incomparable Stevie Wonder (another Susan suggestion) for Amazing Monday this week, but happened to watch the Netflix miniseries All the Light We Cannot See, adapted from the novel by Anthony Doerr. Without playing spoiler, it is about a blind late teenager and a German soldier at the end of the Nazi occupation of France. Personally, I thought this was one of the best things I’ve seen on Netflix in years, but then I learned that it received generally bad reviews as I was researching the actresses for this post. Go figure.

 At any rate, the series features a girl in her late teenage years along with flashbacks to when she was a 7-year-old girl. Aria Mia Loberti plays the older “Marie,” while Nell Sutton plays her younger self. Both actresses are legally blind. Loberti was: “Born with achromatopsia (a genetic condition that renders people unable to perceive colors), Loberti has minimal to no vision, based on the environment she’s in (https://thecinemaholic.com/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-aria-mia-loberti-blind/)”. Sutton was born with congenital glaucoma and is blind. This was Loberti’s acting debut and she was just phenomenal. The scenes of her reading braille and counting steps with her cane along with her facial reactions were simply incredible. However, as good as Loberti was, Sutton stole the show. Her father (Mark Ruffalo, proving to me that he is way more than a green bulked up “Hulk”) builds her a wooden model of the town they live in and shows her how to use her hands to learn the layout of the city. I don’t care what the critics said: that scene was pure magic. Thank you Ms. Loberti and young Ms. Sutton. Your performances and lives were and are, well, Amazing. Sorry Mr. Wonder, we will feature you next week!

4/28/25

It’s “Amazing Monday!” We all know the incredible story of Helen Keller. Keller was left deaf and blind at 19 months by what contemporary doctors believe may have been meningitis. She went on to graduate from Radcliffe College (part of Harvard University) and was an outspoken advocate for the rights of people with disabilities (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller). While her story is amazing in itself, how many people know that her famous teacher Anne Sullivan was partially blind herself and in fact attended the Perkins School for the Blind, the school that offered Keller her first formal education (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Sullivan). Sullivan contracted trachoma at age five and lost most of her sight. Several operations restored some of her vision, but she was totally blind at the time of her death. Sullivan taught finger spelling to a reportedly recalcitrant and stubborn Keller who was not catching on to what she was being taught until there was a major breakthrough (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Sullivan). Sullivan was reportedly finger spelling “W-A-T-E-R” while pouring water over Keller’s other hand. Keller finally realized that these strange sets of symbols represented things in her world and became an active and dedicated student. The rest, including an almost 50-year friendship between the ladies, is history. A history dictated by the amazing Anne Sullivan. Thanks again for the tip, Susan!

5/5/25

Let’s shift gears this week. Stephen Graham is a British actor whose name you might not recognize, but when you look at his film bio, you know that you have seen him. He just wasn’t a “household name actor”—until now. He co-created and starred in the very successful Netflix 4-part mini-series Adolescence. The premise is that his 13-year-old son is accused of murder. NO SPOILERS here, but DO NOT go to the restroom, get a snack or play with your cats during the last 10-minutes of episode one. I did and I only understood the social and deeply personal message of the series after doing some research and watching the show for a second time. The kid who plays Jamie, the teenager, was a first-time actor and was phenomenal. However, Mr. Graham’s performance was beyond description. His facial features say all you need to know. It is a “mature” show, but one parents of teenagers need to see. Oh! Why is Mr. Graham on this list? “Graham has dyslexia, (4), revealing in 2019 that Walters reads scripts for him and helps him decide whether to accept a role” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Graham). Walters is his wife. Amazing! 

5/12/25

It is “Amazing Monday!” Nick Vujicic’s website (https://nickvujicic.com/), is still accepting speaking engagements, so it seems, thankfully, that reports of his death are a bit overstated! Wait, who is Nick Vujicic? Mr. Vujic is an Australian-American who was born in Melbourne, Australia, with terta-amelia syndrome, leaving him with no arms, very partial legs, including a partial foot with two fused toes. “An operation was performed to separate the toes so that he can use them as fingers. Vujicic refers to this foot as his “chicken drumstick (12, 10). This foot became his “universal limb”: he uses it to walk, jump, write, type, swim, surf and skateboard.”( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vujicic). He was placed in special education despite his cognitive skills: “Initially, a Victoria state law prevented Nick from attending a mainstream school due to his physical disability in spite of a lack of mental impairment. However, Vujicic became one of the first physically disabled students integrated into a mainstream school once those laws changed” (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3607348/bio/). He was bullied in school and attempted to drown himself at age 10. Apparently his love for his parents changed his mind and he changed his life (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3607348/bio/). He has gone to serve his ministry and become a world-traveling speaker and best-selling author. I love this quote from Mr. Vujicic: “Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude” (https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1068789). Amazing attitude! Mr. Vujicic has been married for 13 years and has four children.

5/19/25

Sometimes the courage to speak up, share your struggles and inspire others makes you “infamous” rather than “famous.” Such is the case of the subject of this week’s “Amazing Monday” feature. Dr. Gregory Nelson he certainly has had an inspiring career and has had a positive impact on many lives. According to his bio on https://www.gregorypnelson.com: “Dr. Greg Nelson is a professional speaker, coach, professional musician, and author of “The Strategic Stop” – a guide to creating purposeful pauses for reflection and connection in our “always-on” society. He is recognized as an expert on leadership culture transformation innovatively illustrated with words and music and has an earned doctorate in personal and organizational effectiveness. He has worked with high-profile companies and organizations such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Fitbit, Amazon, Walmart, Lyft, American Express, Sutter Health, and Golden Gate University. He also consults with nonprofit organizations that are striving to stay relevant. He has delivered thousands of talks in his former career as a pastor and then as a full-time corporate keynote speaker and coach, to both small audiences and those in the thousands.” This portion of his life is certainly inspirational, but what comes next is…amazing!

I became acquainted with Dr. Nelson through my work with UCPA Hawai’i on LinkedIn. Dr. Nelson openly shared his recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. He has decided to publicly post his experiences and fears in order to raise awareness of the disease. This is part of one of his recent posts: “I know one thing for sure about leaders-the more courage they show, the more successful they are. And courage comes with vulnerability.

For example, I know a lot of people feel like they need to wait until they have a clear diagnosis of Alzheimer’s—or even once they do, they still hesitate to share it. Sometimes we’re afraid of burdening the people we love, adding stress to their lives, or being seen differently. I get all that.

But for me, staying silent didn’t feel like protection—it felt like disconnection.
And that’s not how I want to live.

So I made the choice to be open. Not just at the end of the journey, but right in the thick of it…

And most of all, I knew there’s no way to feel supported or loved… if no one knows what you’re going through.

Has it been easy? No. Vulnerability rarely is. But it’s been real. It’s been healing. And it’s made me feel more human, not less.”

Mahalo Dr. Nelson. Your openness, honesty, and message of hope are inspirational…and Amazing.

Follow his story here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorypnelson/recent-activity/all/

5/26/25 

I would like to revisit a post from my “View From a Wheelchair” series to commemorate this very special Amazing Monday. The Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific is a beautiful tribute to those who fought for our freedom in many wars across the Pacific. There are other national cemeteries across the country: all reminding us that “freedom” is anything but free. The price is the lives of thousands of brave soldiers who either made the ultimate sacrifice and died for us or “came back” with wounds unimaginable to most of us. I personally have lived an amazing life so far…because of all of you and your families. Today, and every day, our thoughts, hearts, and thanks are with all of you. Aloha ‘Oe and mahalo.

6/4/25

Amazing Monday: The Amazing story of Bethany Hamilton is well-known in Hawai’i and in the surfing world but may not be as well known outside of these circles. Ms. Hamilton was born on Kauai in Hawai’i to parents that loved to surf. She was surfing by age 6 and entering competitions at 9-years-old. Then, the unthinkable happened: a 14-foot tiger shark attacked and took her left arm of at the shoulder when she was 13 years old! She was rushed to the hospital where her father was, scheduled for his own surgery. She was operated on in place of her father (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Hamilton). A shark taking your arm off would keep most people out of the water forever, but Ms. Hamiton was back on a surfboard…a month later! She went on to compete as a professional surfer, become a best-selling author, complete the surfing stunts in Soul Surfer, a movie based in her book, and an internationally sought speaker. She talks on her website about her faith got her through the most difficult times in her life and wants her site to be “a safe place for you to come and be encouraged. A place to get rad ideas on living a healthy life in faith, mind, body and spirit. I have seen more and more friends get messed up from social media and the junk content out there. My hope is this site can be a counter balance from all of that somewhat useless noise” (https://bethanyhamilton.com/) – the website seem to having intermittent issues loading. Wikipedia states that: “Hamilton is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, [36] which reaches out to amputees and youth, encouraging them to overcome difficulties by offering hope through Jesus Christ. Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy lifestyle, Hamilton authored the book Body and Soul in 2014. In 2019, a surf documentary was made about her, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, [37] which was accompanied by a photo book and a children’s book.[38]

Within the Friends of Bethany Foundation, there are four different programs:

  • Beautifully Flawed: retreat designed for young women ages 14–25 who have experienced traumatic limb loss. Six events hosted annually through this program which include: guests speakers, practical health and wellness tips which specifically account for limb loss, postural training, and surf lessons.[39]
  • Shine Forth: Night filled with stories and inspiration to overcome, free community event to gather together and share comeback stories. Bethany also does a book signing at this event, which is hosted annually.[39]
  • Anchored in Love: Conference for girls and young women ages 12 and up, one day event designed to help girls and young women discover their true beauty, purpose, and worth. Event is held annually in San Diego and features several guest speakers.[39]
  • The Forge: Men’s retreat where young male amputees come and focus on faith, fitness, and healthy living. This program is run by Bethany, her husband, and friend/mentor Mike Coots.[39]”

There is a blog on her website that I was not able to access, but it talks about her experiences surfing 40-foot (Hawai’ian) at the famous Maui surf spot ironically called “Jaws!” Amazing.

6/9/25

Amazing Monday! Susan Boyle broke every mold that the entertainment business had when she appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. She was 47 years of age when she appeared on a show that is typically geared for much younger talent. The almost pure disdain on the look of the judges when she came on stage was palpable. They clearly held no respect for a “middle-aged” woman working on making her dreams come true…and then, this happened… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS5Om47vsaA. She went on to become an international phenomenon selling millions of records worldwide. Her courage to show up on that stage is amazing enough, “but wait, there’s more!” Ms. Boyle has Asperger’s Syndrome!

Asperger’s Syndrome is now considered to be on the high functioning end of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. It was its own diagnosis prior to the release of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fifth Edition (DSM V). “Doctors used to consider Asperger’s and autism as separate conditions. But the 2013 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the standard book that mental health experts use, changed how the condition is classified.

Today, Asperger’s syndrome is technically no longer a diagnosis on its own. It’s part of the broader category of autism spectrum disorder(ASD). This group of related disorders shares some symptoms. Even so, lots of people still use the term Asperger’s. (https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-aspergers-syndrome”) WebMD continues: Asperger’s Symptoms

Asperger’s symptoms start early in life. Most diagnoses happen between ages 5 and 9, although some people are adults before they get their diagnosis. No two people have the same symptoms. But they’re usually related to emotional, communication, and behavioral skills.

People with the disorder may:

  • Have trouble making eye contact
  • Feel and act awkward in social settings
  • Have trouble responding to people in conversation
  • Miss social cues that other people find obvious
  • Struggle to read body language
  • Don’t understand what facial expressions mean
  • Show few emotions
  • Speak in a flat, robotic tone
  • Talk a lot about one topic such as rocks or football stats
  • Repeat words, phrases, or movements
  • Dislike change
  • Keep the same schedule and habits, such as eating the same meals

Adult Asperger’s symptoms

No symptoms are specific to adults, though some are more common, including:

  • Clumsiness
  • Strong verbal skills
  • Obsession with a topic
  • Social difficulties
  • Hypersensitivity

One of the diagnostic criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome prior to DSM V was average to above-average cognitive skills. Ms. Boyle was diagnosed with above average intelligence and Asperger’s Syndrome.

A 2014 People Magazine posts: ““I get depressed,” she explains. “I just go away, be myself. Then I come back to you. I always come back.”

Performing remains Boyle’s safest haven. “It never happens on stage,” she notes. “It seems to make me feel better When I’m up on stage, even if I’ve had a bad day, I can become a different person. I feel safe.” In the footlights, she says, “I don’t feel judged up there. I feel accepted.”

Boyle, who just wrapped up a U.S. tour, hopes she can bring some of the peace she feels on stage to her everyday life, but admits it’s a process. “I like to see myself as someone with a problem, but one I can solve,” she says. “It is definitely getting better. Since the diagnosis I’ve learned strategies for coping with it, and the best one is always to just walk away.”

The Grammy nominee, who has sold more than 19 million albums worldwide, also wants to use her unique position as an educational opportunity. “I want people to see how it is, to see that you shouldn’t judge.” She adds, “People with Asperger’s do put a barrier up because they don’t know how to trust people. I try not to. I want to let people in. https://people.com/celebrity/susan-boyle-confesses-aspergers-syndrome-makes-her-feel-like-king-kongs-mother/)”

Ms. Boyle told AP News: “she was glad she, and others, would now have a better understanding of the struggles she experiences.

“I would say I have relationship difficulties, communicative difficulties, which lead to a lot of frustration. If people were a bit more patient, that would help,” she told the newspaper.

“Asperger’s doesn’t define me. It’s a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself. People will have a much greater understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do. (https://apnews.com/article/4c85f48e20214a35ba39b1fd9fca231f)”

Ms. Boyle, your career, voice and courage are nothing short of AMAZING!

6/16/25

Amazing creative genius often comes with an equally dangerous and frightening dark side. Brian Wilson’s career, life and struggles are legendary for both. Mr. Wilson was a founding member of The Beach Boys. That might not be fair understatement: he is often credited a being the creative force behind the iconic band, writing, arranging and producing material for the group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wilson). The same article notes that he was adept at learning music “by ear” which is even more incredible given the fact that he was partially deaf. His deafness has been attributed to the physical abuse of his father, a claim that Mr. Wilson disputes: “My father hit me, but he didn’t hit my ear. I’ve never heard stereophonic sound ever in my life” (https://www.biography.com/musicians/brian-wilson).

The dark side of Mr. Wilson began just as The Beach Boys were reaching the pinnacle of their long career. “Wilson suffered from a major nervous breakdown five minutes into a flight to Houston for a concert dated December 23, 1964. According to Al Jardine: “We were really scared for him. He obviously had a breakdown. None of us had ever witnessed something like that.” The Houston press added that Brian had “started crying and making shrieking noises. He screamed into a pillow, spun out of his seat and sobbed on the cabin floor. https://iloveclassicrock.com/the-flight-that-changed-brian-wilsons-life/)” He stopped touring with the band and became more and more reclusive. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. He stated in 2006: “‘…for the past 40 years I’ve had auditory hallucinations in my head, all day every day, and I can’t get them out,” he told ABILITY Magazine. “Every few minutes the voices say something derogatory to me, which discourages me a little bit, but I have to be strong enough to say to them, “Hey, would you quit stalking me?… Don’t talk to me—leave me alone!” I have to say these types of things all day long. It’s like a fight.”

Hearing voices isn’t the only symptom Wilson said he experienced due to the mental health condition. “I get intense fear, too,” Wilson said. “It comes and goes. You get the feeling and it goes away.”

Wilson also shared that he struggled with depression. “Well my depression goes pretty low, pretty deep,” Wilson told ABILITY Magazine. “I get depressed to the point where I can’t do anything—I can’t even write songs, which is my passion.’” (https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/brian-wilsons-health-journey-and-dementia-diagnosis). Delusions coupled with mood disorders is not uncommon in schizoaffective disorder (explains Kenny Tello, PhD, psychologist at Orlando Health. https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/brian-wilsons-health-journey-and-dementia-diagnosis).

Unfortunately, Mr. Wilson’s downward spiral was aided by a well-chronicled addiction and abuse of many drugs. However, amazingly, he managed to recover, regain some musical notoriety and live again: “It is no secret that I have been living with mental illness for many decades,” Brian added. “There were times when it was unbearable, but with doctors and medications I have been able to live a wonderful, healthy and productive life with support from my family, friend and fans who have helped me through this journey” (https://www.biography.com/musicians/brian-wilson-mental-health-illness).

Where would we be without Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys? “God Only Knows!”

Thanks to my sister Susan for pushing me to write this piece!

6/23/25

Let’s stay with the very serious topic of mental health for today’s Amazing Monday. The name Billy Joel certainly conjures up amazing memories of incredible songs during “my” era of the mid-1970’s to 1980’s. He is known for many love ballads (“She’s Always a Woman to Me,” “You’re my home,”) and songs about introspection (“James” and even the song that gave him his moniker: “Piano Man.”) He also wrote many upbeat and catchy tunes like “Movin’ Out” and “Uptown Girl.” His music was not only pop, but courageously tackled issues like the Vietnam (“Goodnight Saigon”) and the decline of American industry (“Allentown”).

So, what has “The Piano Man” got to do with mental health issues? One need only to listen to, arguably, his most important song, “You’re Only Human (Second Wind) where he details his battle with depression and attempted suicide. In fact, he recently revealed that he attempted suicide on two occasions, winding up in a coma after his first attempt (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-06-10/billy-joel-suicide-attempts-affair-coma). He “stated in a 1985 interview that he wrote the song as a way to help young people struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts [1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Only_Human_(Second_Wind)). “Joel donated all royalties from the song to the National Committee for Youth Suicide Prevention[3]” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_Only_Human_(Second_Wind)).

Mr. Joel speaks directly to his audience about feelings of depression and making a mess out of life. He also tackles suicidal ideation head-on and acknowledges that his audience probably doesn’t want to hear from him: “But I wouldn’t be telling you if I hadn’t been there myself” (https://genius.com/Billy-joel-youre-only-human-second-wind-lyrics).

 You are not alone if you have these thoughts: “Suicidal ideation is common. One study reported that 10.6 million adults (people over age 18) in the United States, or 4.3% of the U.S. adult population, experienced suicidal thoughts. Among children (before age 18) in the United States, 18% thought about attempting suicide (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/suicidal-ideation). Remember Mr. Joel’s urging to: “Don’t forget your second wind
Sooner or later you’ll get your second wind” (https://genius.com/Billy-joel-youre-only-human-second-wind-lyrics). Dial 988 for help.

You CAN move on and have an Amazing life!

6/28/25

Amazing Monday: What do I want to do tonight? Maybe I will listen to an old Eagles or Kris Kristofferson record (remember those?!). Perhaps I will watch Phil eat on Netflix. Maybe I will call my sister in New York. Or do I want to hop in the car for a drive.  No, maybe I will “simply turn the light on” and continue reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Wait, before I do that, it would probably be a good idea for me to make a copy of my “Amazing Monday” list.

These things are so routine and commonplace that we forget how truly Amazing they are. Incredibly, all of these options are available because of one person: Thomas Edison. Mr. Edison either invented or was instrumental in the advancement of all of these and many, many more. In fact, he had 1093 patented inventions at the end of his life (1).  Let’s go back to my “things to do tonight list.” I will save the records for last. The “Kinetograph” (a working camera) and the “Kinescope” (a single person viewer) were the first iterations of motion pictures developed by Edison and William K.L. Dickson (2).  While it is true that we have Alexander Graham Bell to thank for the telephone, Mr. Edison made significant improvements to the world-changing invention (3). My evening drive? Mr. Edison found a way to store energy in alkaline batteries and Henry Ford asked him to help with the Model T (2)! He also invented the “Electric Pen” which later became modern copiers. How often have we asked someone to “turn on the light?” You guessed it: Mr. Edison invented the first functional incandescent light bulb (1, 2, 3, 4).

Oh yeah! I can choose music tonight because Mr. Edison invented a small thing called the phonograph—the early record player! All of these things help make all of our lives amazing, but, and here is the point of this blog, Mr. Edison was completely deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other ear! The cause of his deafness is debated, with some sources citing the effects of Scarlett Fever at age 12 and untreated middle ear infections due to mastoiditis (2, 4), or other causes (2). Absolutely incredible, or, simply “Amazing!”

 

7/7/25

Here is an Amazing Monday morning question for you: “What would you do if you were born with the ability to control only one of your limbs?” I know, that is a tough way to start the week, BUT, not if you were Christy Brown! Who? Mr. Brown was born in 1932 in Dublin, Ireland and passed in 1981 (1, 2, 3). He was born with severe cerebral palsy and was essentially paralyzed—with one notable exception. One of 12 surviving children (9 other siblings died in infancy—3), his parents refused to place him in an institution. Doctors at the time felt that he was also intellectually disabled, but his mother taught him to read and write (1). A social worker began to bring him books and painting materials when he was an adolescent, and he quickly developed into a serious artist (3). Some of his work is displayed here: https://christybrown.info/page5/index.html. He was also writing and learned to use a typewriter. A fellow author helped him to get some of his work published. He wrote several novels and books of poetry, however, his autobiography became a little movie known as My Left Foot! Amazing!

7/14/25

Amazing Monday! We have all seen, and probably felt, those raised dots on a silver plate on the outside and next to floor numbers on an elevator. They are even on drive-through ATM machines (1)! What are they? They are the numbers and/or instructions written in braille, a six-dot code that allows for letters and numbers to be represented in a tactile, or touch, format so people who are blind or have visual difficulties can read and, in turn, write. The current system of braille was invented by Louis Braille in France in 1829—2 (“braille,” as a reading/writing system is not capitalized, but Braille, the inventor of the system, is capitalized—1). Mr. Braille was involved in an accident in his parents’ workshop when he was three-years old. The accident left him totally blind by the time he was 5-years-old (2, 3, 4). Braille attended the local school and learned by listening (3). He eventually gained a scholarship to the National Institute for Blind Youth (2, 3, 4). His life, and the lives of millions of people with visual disabilities changed forever when he adapted a raised dot system for written communication developed by Charles Barbier. Mr. Barbier’s system was a 12-dot code developed for nighttime communication in battle (2, 3, 4). Mr. Braille modified that to the current 6-dot system. He was 15-years old at the time (3)! “The first Braille writing machine, the Hall Braille writer, was invented in 1892 by Frank H. Hall, superintendent of the Illinois School for the Blind. A modified form of this device is still in use today, as are later, similar devices (2).” There are now over 500,000 books published worldwide (Google “AI” search result—5) and the system has been modified for mathematics as well (1). In case the accomplishments of Mr. Braille weren’t Amazing enough, he was also an accomplished musician who adapted his system to write music in braille (2). Sadly, tuberculosis took him at the early age of 43 (4), but his legacy lives on. Oh, the braille codes on drive-through ATMs are there so people with visual disabilities can perform the needed transactions without assistance from a driver (1).

 

  1. https://www.perkins.org/12-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-braille/
  2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Braille-writing-system
  3. https://www.icoe.org/news/story-louis-braille-inventor-braille-code
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Braille
  5. https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrOoWn4rGlohzg4SDgPxQt.;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcwMDU1OQRfcgMyBGZyA3locy1pYmEtMwRmcjIDc2EtZ3Atc2VhcmNoBGdwcmlkA2pGOW9QOUYyU0QuZGFodTdyR1hBbkEEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzEEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzEEcHFzdHIDaG93IG1hbnkgYm9va3MgYXJlIGluIGJyYWlsBHBxc3RybAMyNwRxc3RybAMyOQRxdWVyeQNob3clMjBtYW55JTIwYm9va3MlMjBhcmUlMjBpbiUyMGJyYWlsbGUEdDVwb3MDMQR0X3N0bXADMTc1MTc1NjI3NQR1c2VfY2FzZQM-?p=how+many+books+are+in+braille&fr2=sa-gp-search&hspart=iba&hsimp=yhs-3&vm=r&type=gyff_9318_FFW_US&mkr=8

7/21/25

 Amazing Monday! There are many people who have promoted the education, vocational training and/or work opportunities as well as advocacy for people with disabilities. However, the name Dr. Henry Viscardi belongs at, or very near the top of that list. Dr. Viscardi was born in 1912 with no legs (1) and received his first prosthetic legs at age 27 (2). Dr. Viscardi was born poor, but managed to put himself through college, including Fordham University and St. John’s Law School (1). He wanted to enlist in the armed services during World War II but was turned away. However, the Red Cross put him to work as a field officer where he met and collaborated on the rehabilitation of wounded warriors with Dr. Howard Rusk (1, 2). It was an experience that ultimately changed the lives of many people with disabilities.

What did Dr. Viscardi do? He was a consultant to presidents from Franklin Roosevelt through Jimmy Carter (1) and was named by then President Ford to chair the first “White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals (2).” The Viscardi Center apparently began in 1952 (3) as “Abilities, Inc.” and: “broke new ground as one of the first in the world staffed primarily by people with disabilities and wounded veterans (3).” He then created one of the first schools devoted to the education of students with severe disabilities: “Prior to the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1975, education options were limited for children with severe physical disabilities—many of whom received instruction at home or in a hospital—and their families. Dr. Viscardi established a traditional school for students with disabilities, providing a high-quality education in combination with vital therapies, medical supports, and assistive technology (3).”

 Dr. Viscardi passed away in 2004 at age 91 (1). His legacy and commitment to the “Education, Employment, and Empowerment” of people with disabilities (4) continues today with the Viscardi Center. Mahalo Dr. Viscardi, for your AMAZING life and contributions.

 

7/28/25

Amazing Monday: “Congratulations Aaron, you are now officially amazing!” Those words were spoken as a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Aaron Fotheringham not one, not two, but THREE plaques commemorating 3 world records (1)! How could we NOT include him in our Amazing Monday series?

Wait, WHO? Mr. Fotheringham is an Xtreme athlete, “dropping in” to do incredible tricks in a skate “pipe” (think about the new Xtreme sports in the Olympics for an idea). Ok. There are many “Xtremely” talented Xtreme athletes, so why Mr. Fotheringham. Well, he does all his stunts in a wheelchair! He was born with spina bifida and used crutches until the age of 8 when a wheelchair became his primary mode of mobility (2). He has has 23 surgeries throughout his life (2). His brother convinced him to “drop in” at a skate park and the rest is in the history books—and the Book of World Records! He completed the first full backflip in a wheelchair at 14 years of age and literally doubled that at 18. He holds the world record for the longest wheelchair jump (1). My favorite quote from his record-breaking video: “To me, I want to show that a wheelchair is not just a medical device. It’s a tool to help you succeed”—Aaron Fotheringham (1). AMAZING spirit and inspiration. Mahalo Mr. Fotheringham!

 

8/4/25

The word, besides “Amazing,” for everyone on this list would be “resilient.” Resilience is the ability to bounce back after a setback, or to simply never let adversity stop you from pursuing your dreams. Or, we can say the name “Kanya Sesser!” If that name doesn’t sound familiar to you, then hold on to your hat because here comes a truly amazing story!

Ms. Sesser was born in Thailand with no legs. Let me rephrase that: she was ABANDONED with no legs in Thailand (1, 2)! She says that the people who rescued her among tall grass relied on her cries because the grass covered her (4). She was brought to a hospital and cared for until she was placed in foster care in Bangkok prior to her adoption by an American family at age five (2, 4). She needed surgery to separate her fingers on one hand. She could not speak English until she was nine (2). 

What did Ms. Sesser do? She discovered a skateboard and with it a sense of freedom…and amazing accomplishments (we’ll get there). She was also a wheelchair speed racer who missed the London Paralympic Games by one second (4). She became a surfer who surfed in an episode of “Hawai’i 5-0” and modeled for companies like Billabong as a teenager. Her acting career includes roles in “The Walking Dead” (4). She joined the X-Games and said that she loved answering questions from kids and being an inspiration by her actions as well as her words (4). She is a motivational speaker and advocate for people with disabilities. Oh! That skateboard thing! Ms. Sesser is a 2025 inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest handstand on a skateboard (over 19 seconds) (3, 4)! Her motto is: “No legs, no limits!” (4) -Resilient? Sure. AMAZING? Absolutely!

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanya_Sesser
  2. https://internationalskateboardersunion.com/kanya-sesser/
  3. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/7/awe-inspiring-athlete-born-without-legs-scores-epic-skateboarding-record
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF4LlfX0q_s

8/11/25 

Amazing Monday!

“You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight

You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
‘Neath the pale moonlight 

But don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So darlin’
Save the last dance for me (1)”—Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman (2) 

This song is well-known by everyone (of a certain age!). The Drifters had a number one hit with Mr. Pomus and Mr. Shuman’s song in 1960 (3) (OK, I was born a year later, but I still know and love the song!) The song is beautiful in and of itself, but the backstory to the song is, well, you know!

“Doc Pomus” was born Jerome Solon Felder in 1925. He contracted polio as a child and was in an “iron lung” for a year (4). He used crutches and then a wheelchair for mobility (4, 5). He went on to become a singer-songwriter, but clubs in the 1950’s were not particularly “inclusive,” and he would not be rebooked once the club owner learned of his “condition” (4). However, this did not stop him as he turned to songwriting, penning songs for Elvis Presley, Andy Williams and Ray Charles, among many others (5).

“Last Dance” is by far his most recognizable song, written with Mort Shuman (4). There is a not-so-subtle irony behind the song: he never danced the last dance. The song was written about his wedding day. He married an aspiring Broadway actress/dancer and the song was written as he reflected on his wedding day, watching his bride dance with the guests (5). The story about whether he was using crutches or a wheelchair at his wedding varies depending on the version you read (2, 5). Either way, it is a beautiful expression of love, trust, and selflessness.

 

8/18/25

Amazing Monday! Everyone, (again, “of an age!”), knows the name Luciano Pavarotti. Pavarotti was one of the most famous opera tenors to every set foot on a stage (and he stood on many!) What may be less known that Pavarotti was instrumental in launching the incredible career of another tenor by the name of Andrea Bocelli (2, 3)! Mr. Bocelli is not only well-known within the opera community, performing for US presidents, Queen Elizabeth II, and even the Pope, he has had considerable “cross-over” success as well. He has sung duets with Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, and Josh Groban. Stevie Wonder was a guest on one of his albums and he toured with jazz singer Al Jarreau (4).

Mr. Bocelli earned a law degree from the University of Pisa and was assigned to be a court attorney (2, 3, 4). He never forgot his passion for music and was asked to record a demonstration tape of Italian artist Zucchero Fornaciari’s “Miserere” (co-written by U2’s Bono (3)) in 1992. The song was written for Luciano Pavarotti. Mr. Pavarotti was so impressed with the recording that he convinced Fornaciari to let Mr. Bocceli record it (2, 3, 4). Eventually they recorded the song together and Mr. Bocelli was no longer an attorney!

Why is Mr. Bocelli on this list of people who have accomplished amazing things with a disability? He was born partially blind due to congenital glaucoma and lost all his vision when he was hit in the eye with a soccer ball at age 12 (1, 2, 3, 4). “‘Growing up, every day they told me ‘this is too dangerous’ but I don’t care,” he told The Independent. “Everything is dangerous. To take the car and go out on the highway is also very dangerous or to fly in a helicopter. I like very much to ride horses. I like soccer, I have had a passion for boxing since I was a child although it would be stupid for me to box (1).’” Yeap…Amazing!

 

8/25/25

Today’s Amazing Monday features the not-so-funny personal life of a very funny man. I remember watching Howie Mandel as, what I thought at the time was a funny stand-up comedian. I remember one time the crowd was going nuts when he came on stage and you could clearly hear one person shouting: “HOWIE, Howie!” Mr. Mandel stopped midsentence, looked up at the dark arena and yelled back: “PERSON!” I thought that was genius! What else would you say? He went on to star in the terrific (in my opinion) TV show “St. Elsewhere.” Younger readers know him from hosting “Deal or No Deal” or being the longest running judge on “America’s Got Talent” (3). While I was never a big fan of the show, Mr. Mandel always had his characteristic smile and support for the contestants.

There is, however, a much darker side to Mr. Mandel’s smile. I am going to choose a word that I never use when describing someone’s disability: “suffer.” Mr. Mandel, by his own comments, “suffers” from OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is a self-proclaimed “germ-phobic.” OCD is an anxiety disorder where the affected person ruminates, or thinks about negative events—events that often have an extremely small chance of ever happening—over and over and over. Compulsions are the behaviors that we (I include myself as I have written about my own battles with a much less severe version of the disorder) engage in to relieve the anxiety over what we think would happen if we don’t engage in the behavior. Compulsive handwashing after touching anything is an example. It is important to note that some behaviors, like making sure the stove is off, or your door is locked are simply appropriate safety measures. However, checking the stove or the lock five times without ever touching it once checked is a bit excessive. Here’s the thing: the person often KNOWS that the behavior is irrational or not logical, but he or she “HAS” to complete the ritual. 

Mr. Mandel describes difficulties that go well beyond this. He has a separate house in his backyard where he stays when someone in his family is sick (2). He spends a lot of time in hotel rooms and will set up a trail of towels on the floor, so he doesn’t have to walk on the carpet (4) and he simply cannot shake hands (1). I remember watching him on the David Letterman Show as he discussed his issues. Mr. Letterman says: “I do know a little about this and people say that when it begins to interfere with your life then maybe it is time to think about medication.” Mr. Mandel instantly replies: “What makes you believe that I am not on that?”

I am reminded of an old Smokey Robinson song when I think of the years of humor that Mr. Mandel has given me: “But in my lonely room; I cry the tears of a clown; When there’s no one around” (5). Mr. Mandel has long been an outspoken advocate for those with mental health issues. He has traveled the world spreading humor and goodwill for over 40-years, all while battling a severe anxiety disorder and speaking out to help others. You know the word: “Amazing.”

9/1/25

Amazing Monday: It seems like you cannot watch a movie or go online without seeing or hearing about Millie Bobby Brown. Ms. Brown is a talented actress who just seems to be everywhere! She was born in Spain to British parents before moving to England and then to Florida when she eight years old. Her dream was to pursue acting. She managed to land a few guest appearances on popular tv shows, but she skyrocketed to fame as “Eleven” in the Netflix hit “Stranger Things (1, 2),” earning numerous award nominations. Stranger Things is set to premier its fifth and final season later this year, taking 10 years to produce 5 seasons. What has Ms. Brown done while not filming the hit show? She has starred in two of the Godzilla features and became “Enola Holmes,” a franchise movie series based on the idea of Sherlock Holmes’ sister as a master detective. She also produced the Holmes movies. In the meantime, she released her own line of beauty products and well as her debut novel (1). She has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine (1).

Ms. Brown was the youngest person to be appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She, has, unfortunately, had to fight back strongly against cyber-bullying (1). Nothing held her back. She married Jake Bongiovi in 2023 (2). The name will sound familiar to older readers: Jake’s father is rocker Jon Bon Jovi!

Less known is the fact that Ms. Brown (rather, Mrs. Bongiovi) was born partially deaf in one ear and lost all hearing in that ear over a few years (1, 2, 3, 4). Her hearing loss means that she cannot fully hear her performances (3). She is quoted as saying: “I just started to sing, and if I sound bad I don’t care, because I’m just doing what I love,” she says. “You don’t have to be good at singing. You don’t have to be good at dancing or acting. If you like to do it, if you genuinely enjoy doing it, then do it. No one should stop you”(3). Let’s see: award winning actress, producer, author, model, entrepreneur, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Cyber-bullying survivor, wife, and now mother; It looks like nothing is going to stop this Amazing young lady!

9/8/25

Amazing Monday: “Harry Potter” may have been a “wizard” quidditch player, zipping around on his broomstick with ease, but motor movements for the real-life actor were not as simple without the wonders of Hollywood. Daniel Radcliffe described his difficulties in school in no uncertain terms: “I was having a hard time at school, in terms of being cr*p [edit] at everything, with no discernible talent” (1, 2). His difficulties stemmed from poor fine motor control that made tasks like tying his shoelaces or writing thank you notes a challenge.

Mr. Radcliffe has what is described as a “mild” form of “developmental coordination disorder,” or, DCD, commonly known as “dyspraxia” (3). DCD is a neurological condition that interferes with smooth muscle movements and can affect fine motor tasks like tying shoelaces or handwriting and also gross motor skills (3). Other difficulties may include: “catching objects, using cutlery…riding a bike, use of tools or participating in team sports or swimming” (3). DCD is diagnosed when other situations like cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis are ruled out and may affect 5% of the population (3).

Mr. Radcliffe had these words of encouragement for a 10-year-old girl with dyspraxia: “Do not let it stop you,” he said. “It has never held me back, and some of the smartest people I know are people who have learning disabilities. The fact that some things are more of a struggle will only make you more determined, harder working and more imaginative in the solutions you find to problems” (1). Amazing? More like “magical!”

9/15/25 

Amazing Monday: 25,000 to 30,000 people converged on Kapi’olani Park and the Waikiki Shell on September 13, 2025 for a huge tribute party and concert in honor of the late George Veikoso. Who? Mr. Veikoso was better known as the beloved reggae star “Fiji.” He was born in Fiji and began his career there before the Fijian coup d’etat in 1987 (1). Fiji was well-known across the Pacific and helped pump 1,000,000 Fijian dollars into the Fiji community with a 2-day homecoming concert in 2024. I admit that I am not a huge fan of reggae, but I loved “Sweet Darlin’” (You know the song: 

And I’m wondering oh, sweet darlin’, sweet darlin’ (Sweet darlin’, baby)
What did I do to deserve you? (What did I do to deserve)
What did I say to make your angel eyes turn my way? (Ooh…ooh…hoo…hoo…)
If only I had the world, I’d give it all to you babe (Said I’m givin it all to you, baby)) (3)

The song was a major “cross-over” hit that was all over the radio for years. The song kept me company on many commutes! Fiji was known for his energetic stage shows, but shocked audiences by appearing for shows in a wheelchair in recent years (4). He began to require mobility assistance in 2023, but it did not stop him: “Mr.Owl: The wheelchair didn’t diminish his artistry—it highlighted his warrior spirit. In Fijian culture, enduring hardship with grace is the highest form of strength. His seated performances carried more power than most artists’ stadium jumps. (4)” There is no clear explanation for Fiji’s physical challenges and ultimate death on July 24, 2025: “Medical experts reviewing public appearances noted potential signs of neurological impairment or advanced diabetes complications—conditions disproportionately affecting Pacific Islander communities” (4).

The concert was “wonderful” (5) and Fiji’s musical legacy lives on, but so does his advocacy: “Veikoso’s wheelchair use sparked overdue conversations about disability representation in Pacific arts.” Fiji (the country) has installed ramp access at 12 venues since he passed away (4).

To paraphrase: “I’m wondering Oh, sweet Fiji; What did we do to deserve you?” Aloha O’e and mahalo for your amazing legacy.

9/22/25

2025 Waikiki Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race

What an AMAZING day! Saturday morning looked ominous with dark clouds over the event area. However, the day turned out to be beautiful, even after short “Hawaiian Blessing” sprinkles early in the event. The day started with a showcase of some truly beautiful and creative motorcycles at the McCully Shopping Center (Mahalo McCully!) The main tents and events were along the promenade by the Hawaiian Convention Center by the bridge where 20,000 rubber duckies would be dropped into the Ala Wai Canal. The promenade was full of people and keiiki (children) playing duckie games by noon (unfortunately, I don’t have parents permission to post the photos of the keiki, but, like our keiki play dates, I am not sure who was having more fun–the kids, or the volunteers! There was a special race for our incredible sponsors before the Ala Wai turned yellow with duckies. The list of prize winners is on the page linked below. It was so great to be back at a duckie race after missing a few years. The support, caring and LOVE that was evident all day was truly touching. I am posting this on Monday, so it is “Amazing Monday!” We usually post about a person who is famous and achieved amazing heights with a disability. Today’s Amazing Monday is dedicated to ALL OF YOU. We all face something everyday, whether it is visible, like cerebral palsy, or more personal. YOU ARE AMAZING! Special mahalos go out to our amazing sponsors and everyone who contributed to our duckie race—your support helped a little kid continue his or her own AMAZING LIFE! MAHALO! Please enjoy the photos of the event, but first, a very special mahalo to our sponsors; there would be no duckie race without them! The event photos are after the list of prize winners.

https://ucpahawaii.org/2025-waikiki-great-hawaiian-rubber-duckie-race/

 

9/29/25

Amazing Monday: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is a multi-Grammy award (14!) winning singer with millions of record sales. She is also an Academy Award winning songwriter and nominated actress. She is famous for continually reinventing herself along with her fashions. Wait. Who? If she is so famous, then why don’t we know her name? Well, you may know her simply as “Lady Gaga!” (1)

I admit that I was not particularly a fan of her music, but I was impressed with her performance in “House of Gucci.” My opinion of her singing changed last week when I finally saw the latest version of “A Star is Born.” Her acting alongside of Bradley Cooper (who is always phenomenal in my opinion) was brilliant. However, I was stunned by…that VOICE! The song “Shallow” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. She is a truly talented singer, songwriter and actress whose career almost came to sudden halt several years ago when fibromyalgia took its toll on her. “Her struggle with chronic pain even led to the cancellation of the final dates of her Joanne World Tour in 2018. At the time, Live Nation and Gaga’s team announced that the singer’s severe pain had impacted her ability to perform” (2). Musictimes.com continues with a quote from her Netflix documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” stating: “In the documentary, Gaga described the severity of her condition, explaining that “the whole right side of my body is in a spasm” and how the pain in her face was overwhelming (2).

Fibromyalgia is a serious condition that affects between 2 and 4% of the population, that, sadly, carried an “entirely incorrect and undeserved” stigma of “not being real” (3). It is, indeed, very real, and apparently, very painful. According to the Mayo Clinic, it “is a long-term condition that involves widespread body pain. The pain happens along with fatigue. It also can involve issues with sleep, memory and mood. Researchers think that fibromyalgia affects the way the brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals. That increases your overall sensitivity to pain” (4). Feelings of anxiety and depression due to chronic pain are not uncommon complications. The Mayo Clinic continues: “There’s no cure for fibromyalgia. But medicines and other treatments can help control the symptoms. Exercise, talk therapy and techniques that lower stress also may help” (4).

Lady Gaga reports that her fibromyalgia is under much better control but still has days of pain (2). Not only did fibromyalgia not derail her career, “Her contributions to the A Star Is Born soundtrack, which spawned the chart-topping single “Shallow“, made her the first woman to win an Academy, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award in one year (1). You guessed it: AMAZING!

 

10/6/25

Amazing Monday:

“Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad, prospero ano felicidad” (1)

OK, it might be a little early for Christmas greetings, but you KNOW that you will hear that song a LOT in the coming months! After all, “Each year during the Christmas season, “Feliz Navidad” remains one of the most played and most downloaded songs of the season. “Feliz Navidad” is also recognized by ASCAP as one of the 25 all-time most-played Christmas songs in the world and it is in the Grammy Hall of Fame[15] “(2). Jose Feliciano was already an emerging superstar “cross-over” artist, earning a Grammy Award for his cover of The Door’s “Light My Fire” (3) before he recorded the iconic Christmas song. His skyrocketing career was not without controversy, however. He was the first person to perform a personalized, stylized version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1968 at the fifth game of the 1968 World Series between the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals (4). Initially met with boos and criticism, the rendition was released and became the first version of the National Anthem to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was later credited with opening the door for other artists to personally interpret the anthem and was invited back to reprise his rendition in 2010 (2).

Mr. Feliciano’s career “musical career has been immortalized with a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame while New York City honored him by re-naming Public School 155 in East Harlem, “The José Feliciano Performing Arts School.” The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an ancient and prestigious Papal Order of the Catholic Church knighted José in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and he received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, for his musical, as well as humanitarian, contributions to the world. Guitar Player Magazine awarded him “Best Pop Guitarist,” placing him in their “Gallery of the Greats,”… In 1996, José was selected to receive Billboard Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” (4). Mr. Feliciano was also selected as one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of best 250 guitarist of all time (5). 

Mr. Feliciana was born in 1945, the 4th of 11 sons in Puerto Rico. He was born blind due to congenital glaucoma (2, 3, 4). Music found him early with reports of him playing on a cracker tin can while his uncle played the cuatro (2). His family moved to New York when he was five and he received his first guitar at age 9. Initially, he would spent up to 14-hours a day learning to play along with “1950s rock and roll, records of classical guitarists, and jazz players. Andrés Segovia and Wes Montgomery were among his favorites. As a teenager, Feliciano took classical guitar lessons with Harold Morris, a staff music teacher at The Light House School for the Blind in New York City” (2). He had to quit school at age 17 to help his family and began playing coffee houses in Greenwich Village, NY (2, 4). Now, at age 80, he continues to play…to much larger crowds! What’s the word? Oh yeah: “Asombroso!”

 

10/13/25

Amazing Monday: Have you ever reached for a cold beer or a glass of wine? How about a glass of milk? Have you ever worn a silk scarf? When was the last time you worried about coming down with anthrax, smallpox or even tuberculosis? A bite from a rabid dog is certainly still scary and unpleasant, but rarely fatal like in the early 1800’s. We have one person to thank for all of these things: Dr. Louis Pasteur. The name sounds familiar because the milk you buy everyday has been “Pasteurized.” Pasteurization is the process of heating milk and other liquids to kill the bacteria that causes spoilage and possible illness. The process was discovered in the mid-1800’s (1, 2). He further refined the process of fermentation, essentially saving the beer and wine industries (1, 2, 3). He would later use his study of microbes to save the silk industry (2). Dr. Pasteur’s work with germ-theory also had a profound effect on human life as his work resulted in several early vaccines.

There are several websites that report that Dr. Pasteur was dyslexic and dysgraphic (3), but this is not known for certain. What is known is that a brain stroke in his forties left him partially paralyzed (1, 2). His paralysis did not stop his research and his discoveries continued to evolve. His 70th birthday was celebrated with some of the great science minds of his time. His paralysis increased over time, and he passed away two-years later. What else needs to be said except: “Amazing!”

 

10/20/25

Artists have a long and rich history from which to draw inspiration. The various styles developed over the centuries make art history a fascinating subject for those who are now expanding the past into their own style. Names like Da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dali provide an incredibly vast set of resources for any budding artist. Photographers have a much shorter, but no less rich history to draw from. The oldest known photograph is from Joseph Niepce in 1827. Matthew Brady used the process known as the Daguerroetype to open photography up to the masses in the late 1830’s (1). Inspiration and talent flowed from then with the development (no pun intended) of the camera and film in the middle 1800’s. Photography’s relatively short history still contain notable names, such as Alfred Stieglitz, George Hurrell, Ansel Adams, and Richard Avedon that continue to influence young shutterbugs (2)…

…And then there is Dorothea Lange. Take one look at the photo above and my guess is that you will recognize it! “Migrant Mother” is arguably one of the most iconic photographs ever created. Ms. Lange got her start working in a studio creating portraits of celebrities under the tutelage of Arnold Genthe (3). However, her fame would come as photojournalist/portraitist during the Great Depression and World War II.

In 1918, Ms. Lange: “decided to travel around the world, earning money as she went by selling her photographs. Her money ran out by the time she got to San Francisco, so she settled there and obtained a job in a photography studio” (4). It was not long before she took her camera outside to document the world, particularly the life of migrant farmers during the Great Depression (5). Ms, Lange: “became the first woman to be awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for in Photography/ [24] After the attack on Pearl Harbor, she gave up the fellowship in order to go on assignment for the War Relocation Authority (WRA) to document the forced evacuation of Japanese Americans from the west coast of the US. [25] She covered the internment of Japanese Americans [26] and their subsequent incarceration, traveling throughout urban and rural California to photograph families required to leave their houses and hometowns on orders of the government” (5). Ironically, her work was later censored with images destroyed (but thankfully not the negatives!) (3) 

Ms. Lange contracted polio at age seven. “She recovered but was left with a limp in her right leg. It “formed me, guided me, instructed me, helped me, and humiliated me,” Lange said. Facing a serious illness that permanently affected her—and made her different from most other kids—likely planted seeds of empathy, resilience, and determination. These traits informed Lange’s life and career (3). She reportedly considered polio to be “’the most important thing’ that ever happened to her” (3). Amazing!

 

10/27/25

Amazing Monday: Another name that simply screams: “AMAZING” is Simone Biles. Ms. Biles has been called “The Greatest of All Time (GOAT)” in women’s gymnastics. Her accomplishments are certainly in the stratosphere (1, 2, 3): “Her 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals make her the most decorated gymnast in history[4]” (3). She had not one, but two vaults named after her, meaning that she was the first to land the increasingly difficult vaults in a major

competition. “Biles is the originator of the most difficult skill on women’s vault, balance beam, and floor exercise and the only gymnast to attempt each skill to date” (3).

Ms. Biles and her three siblings were in and out of foster care as children until her grandparents adopted her and her younger sister. Other family members adopted her two older siblings (3). She was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) as a child (4, 5,) and continues to take medication for the condition. Her use of medication for ADHD was fully disclosed prior to any competition, and she received medical exemptions to take the medication during events (4). ADHD is often associated with difficulties in concentration and focus, and yet Ms. Biles excelled in a sport where one slip could be devastating. “While individuals with ADHD often struggle with maintaining attention, they can also experience periods of hyperfocus – an intense, single-minded concentration on tasks they find engaging. Biles learned to channel this hyperfocus during her routines, allowing her to block out distractions and perform with remarkable precision” (5).

Ms. Biles exploded onto the Olympic stage in 2016, winning 4 gold medals and a bronze medal for the balance beam. It also set the bar of worldwide expectations exceptionally high and the world (myself included) watch in shock as she missed what had become “routine” skills in the 2020 (2021) Olympic Games. A stunned world then watched as she withdrew from the team, overall and several event competitions, citing what are called “the twisties.” The twisties are a phenomenon where the athlete loses the sense of their location while in the air. She was, of course, heavily criticized during the games. What did she do? She took a stand and became an extremely vocal advocate for mental health. Then she came back to win the bronze medal on the balance beam!

Oh, she also competed in the 2024 Games. This time she only won the individual all-round, team and vault gold medals in addition to a silver medal for the floor exercise! Ms. Biles, your accomplishments in the sport of gymnastics defy words. However, there is a word for your courage, stamina, “never give-up” attitude and your outspoken advocacy for mental health: “AMAZING!” Mahalo Ms. Biles.