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KINGS PARK SEPTA

Welcome to KINGS PARK SEPTAWelcome to KINGS PARK SEPTAWelcome to KINGS PARK SEPTA

Welcome to
KINGS PARK SEPTA

Welcome to KINGS PARK SEPTAWelcome to KINGS PARK SEPTAWelcome to KINGS PARK SEPTA
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  • More
    • HOME
    • DONATE
    • EVENT INFORMATION
    • ONLINE STORE
    • DINE & DONATE
    • KPCSD Pt of Contact Chart
    • KP SEPTA Board Info
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    • VOLUNTEER
    • CONTACT US

  • HOME
  • DONATE
  • EVENT INFORMATION
  • ONLINE STORE
  • DINE & DONATE
  • KPCSD Pt of Contact Chart
  • KP SEPTA Board Info
  • RESOURCES & SUPPORTS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • CONTACT US

Success Stories

Ben Blanchet, Author

 "Maybe Autism Is My Superpower"


After seeing a superhero movie, Ben Blanchet, a thirteen-year-old boy who has autism, claims that maybe autism is his superpower. His book details a fascinating conversation between Ben and his mom. Ben describes the unique ways he hears, sees, and thinks about the world around him. His amazing narrative of his special gifts will also have you wondering if autism really is a superpower.

Amazon Purchase:  https://www.amazon.com/Maybe-Autism-Superpower-Ben-Blanchet-ebook/dp/B085763FX8
    

                             

"Ask Ben About... Autism"


Is  a first hand account to the "whys" children who have autism display certain behaviors or characteristics, based on Ben's personal experiences as a child & teen on the autism spectrum. At 14 years old, Ben now has the language and ability to answer some thought provoking questions about autism, and shares these answers in hopes of teaching others to better understand the "whys" of autism. 


Amazon purchase:  

https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Ben-About-Autism-Blanchet-ebook/dp/B08FLQVMTS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ask+ben+about+autism&qid=1600974685&s=digital-text&sr=1-1  


Personal Message From Ben Blanchet

Important Message About Autism

GREAT & INSPIRING PERSONALITIES WITH DISABILITIES

The stories of the personalities below prove only one important fact...

it takes more than courage to face the adversities to win over and be victorious. If they could do it, so could YOU!

Helen Keller - Blind & Deaf

Profession: Lecturer & Activist

Keller was the first ever to earn a Bachelors in Art. She was also a political activist and a celebrated author in America. She was one of the leading hands in founding American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 

Stephan Hawkings - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Profession: English Theoretical Physicist

Despite being challenged by motor neuron disease, he is one of the most admired scientists in physics, with numerous books and publications under his belt. There is even a movie made about his life called "The Theory of Everything." 

Albert Einstein - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Profession: Theoretical Physicist 

Developed the theory of relativity and is the most influential scientist of his- or any-generation. 


*Please note although it is impossible to make a definite diagnosis for someone who is no longer living, Einstein's personality traits exhibited three key symptoms of Asperger's syndrome: obsessive interests, difficulty in social relationships, and problems communicating.

Christy Brown - Cerebral Palsy

Profession: Poet, Painter & Author

Brown was challenged with cerebral palsy. Until the age of 5, he wasn't able to respond on his own will.  Only after that, his left foot was responsive as opposed to the whole body. He is a celebrity author for his autobiography 'My Left Foot.'

Vincent van Gough - Mental Illness

Profession: Painter

Vincent van Gough was one of the most admired and influential painters to have walked the face of the earth. He suffered depression and was hospitalized.  His paintings remain as one of the marvelous crafts of all time.

Beethoven - Deaf

Profession: Composer

Beethoven began to lose his hearing when he was 26 years old. He turned out to be one of the biggest composers of all time. He was guided by Mozart and studied piano. He was famous for his brilliant and dubious improvisations. Beethoven was almost completely deaf by the time he was 44 years old.

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Steven Spielberg - Dyslexia

Profession: Legendary Film Director


Cher - Dyslexia

Profession: Academy Award-Winning Actor & Grammy-winning Singer


Tim Tebow - Dyslexia

Profession: Former NFL Quarterback


Anderson Cooper- Dyslexia

Profession: CNN News Anchor


Jamie Oliver - Dyslexia

Profession: Celebrity Chief


Other Health Impaired - ADHD

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)

Walt Disney - Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD)

Profession: Founder of Disney land

One of the Greatest Entrepreneurs of All Time.


 Michael Phelps- ADHD

Profession: Swimmer, who holds the record for winning the most Olympic metals


Justin Timberlake - ADHD

Profession: Singer-songwriter, Actor & entrepreneur 


Michael Jordan - ADHD

Profession: NBA Basketball Star and Entrepreneur. 

One of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Dr. Temple Grandin - Autism

Profession: Professor of Animal Science & Influential Autism Spokesperson


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Tourette's & Asperger's

Profession: One of the Greatest Composers the World has Ever Known


Dan Aykroyd - Tourette's & Asperger's

Profession: Actor, Comedian & Musician


Satoshi Tajiri - Asperger's Syndrome

Profession: Pokémon Inventor & Media Franchise Extron Aire


Dr. Vernon Smith - Asperger's Syndrome

Profession: Nobel Prize-winning Professional of Economics


Clay Marzo - Asperger's Syndrome

One of the most influential innovative stars in the world of championship surfing


Isaac Newton - Asperger's Syndrome

Profession: English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, theologian, and author who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time and as a key figure in the scientific revolution.


*According to some researchers, Isaac Newton's brilliant work, obsessive tendencies, and lack of social grace may be signs of Asperger's syndrome




Emotional Disturbances

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Demi Lovato - Bi-polar Disorder & Depression

Profession: Public figure, performer & Singer


Jim Carey - Depression

Profession: Canadian- American Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter and Producer.


Lena Dunham - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety & Depression

Profession: Actor, writer, producer, and director best known for her creation on the HBO series Girls.


Steve Young - Social Anxiety Disorder

Profession: NFL- hall of famer & BYU Graduate


Donny Osmond - Social Anxiety Disorder

Profession: Performer, Musician & Singer


Oprah Winfrey - PTSD & Anxiety

Profession; Media Icon, Television Personality, Actor, Producer and Philanthropists


Herschel Walker - Dissociative Identity Disorder

Profession: Three time All-American Honors Athlete, Former Professional Football Player, Sprinter, Mixed Martial Artist, and Olympic Bobsledder


 John Nash - Schizophrenia

Profession: Renowned American Mathematician 


Speech or Language Impairment

Visually Impaired, Including Blindness

Visually Impaired, Including Blindness

Marylin Manroe - Stutter

Profession : Actor


Jimmy Stewart: Stutter

Profession: Actor


Sam Niell - Stutter

Profession: Actor


James Earl Jones - Stutter

Profession: Actor


Winston Churchill- Stutter

Profession: Former British Politician, Military Officer and Writer who Served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain.


Joe Biden- Stutter

Profession: Former Vice-president and Presidential Candidate

Visually Impaired, Including Blindness

Visually Impaired, Including Blindness

Visually Impaired, Including Blindness

Stevie Wonder- Blind

Profession: Musician & Singer


Ray Charles - Blind

Profession: Singer-songwriter


Andrea Bocelli - Visual Impairment

Profession: Italian Tenor, Singer and Creator of 9 Complete Operas

Born with poor vision and completely lost his sight after a football accident when he was 12 years old. He is a highly successful cross-over performer with several albums of both classical and pop music to his record, and is credited to have brought classical music to the top of international pop charts. 


 Marla Runyan - Visual Impairment

Profession: Professional runner

Developed Stargate's Disease at the age of 9, which left her blind for life. She emerged as a national champion 3 times in women's 5000-meters race 


Deafness

Hearing Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Marlee Matlin - Deaf

Profession: Actor & Academy Award-winner


Curtis Pride - Deaf

Profession: MLB player 

He was born deaf and worked as the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University.


Shoshannah Stern - Deaf

Profession: Actor on the series "WEEDS."


Linda Bove - Deaf

Profession: Actor

"Sesame Street" actress Linda Bove introduced children to sign language in her role as Linda the Librarian.


Hearing Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Hearing Impairment

Halle Berry - Hearing Impaired

Profession: Academy Award-winning Actor

 In 2004,Halle suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as a concussion, which resulted in her losing 80% of the hearing in her right ear.  


 Whoopi Goldberg - Hearing Impaired

 Profession: award-winning comedian and actor

According to the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), as many as 40 million Americans suffer from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Goldberg, who wears hearing aids, said her hearing loss is the result of “years and years of listening to music so loudly and so close to the eardrum.” 

 


Deaf-blindness

Orthopedic Impairment

Orthopedic Impairment

Helen Keller (1880-1968) 

Author, activist and lecturer


Victorine Morriseau (1789-1832) 

First deaf-blind person to be educated in Paris


Hieronymus Lorm (19th century) Inventor and novelist


Sanzan Tani (1802-1867)

Japanese teacher who became deaf in childhood and blind later in life, communicating with students by touch.


Laura Bridgman (1829-1889) 

First deaf-blind child to be successfully educated in the US


Yvonne Pitrois (1880-1937)

French biographer


Alice Betteridge (1901-1966) 

First deaf-blind Australian to be educated. Teacher, traveler, writer.


Jack Clemo (1916-1994) 

British poet who became deaf-blind as an adult


Robert Smithdas (1925- )

The first deaf-blind person in the US to receive a master's degree.

Orthopedic Impairment

Orthopedic Impairment

Orthopedic Impairment

Frida Kahlo - Polio

Profession - Painter

One of the most celebrated painters in all of Mexico.  


Sudha Chandran - Amputation

Profession - Dancer

One of the most acclaimed and influential classical dancers in India. 


John Hockenberry - Spinal Cord Injury

Profession: Journalist, Author, 4 times Emmy Award Winner

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability

  Chris Nikic - Down Syndrome

He became the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon.  The 21-year-old from Maitland, Florida earned himself a Guinness World Record for finishing the race, and his milestone was considered a "historic achievement" by the Special Olympics.


Nikic swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles in 16 hours, 46 minutes and nine seconds during Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach on Saturday and finished 14 minutes before the official cut-off time. Nikic competed along with his guide, Dan Grieb.


 Madeline Stuart - Down Syndrome

Profession: Model, Actor & Advocate

She is a worldwide phenomenon. She is a powerful advocate for inclusiveness and diversity in modelling. At just 21 years of age she is already a household name around the world, with over 850,000 social media fans following her successful campaign to become the first professional model with Down syndrome. 

http://www.madelinestuartmodel.com/

Traumatic Brian Injury

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability

 Tracy Jamel Morgan -TBI 

Profession:  Actor and Comedian. 

 Motor vehicle accidents like Morgan’s are one of the most common causes of TBIs, and can be severe due to the high velocity impacts involved. TBIs can range anywhere from a mild concussion to catastrophic, fatal damage. 


 Gabrielle Giffords - TBI

Profession: Former Senator

Intensive rehabilitation can help, who despite a devastating gunshot head wound has slowly recovered some speech and the ability to walk. 


Bob Woodruff - TBI

Profession :  ABC News Journalist Made remarkable gains despite a horrific TBI where he lost a large segment of his skull and brain and was comatose for 36 days. 


Multiple Disabilities

Tony DeBlois - Autism & Blind

Profession: Musician

Mastered more that 20 instruments and can play as many as 8,000 pieces of music from memory alone.

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