Great Leaders with Disabilities – What We Can Learn from Them

By guest blogger Ellen Royce [See Biography]

[May 5, 2018]  Leaders have always had to overcome great difficulties. Whether it’s fighting their way to the top, or convincing people that they are the right person for the job, it’s never been easy at the top.  However, some figures in history have had it far more difficult.

Physical disabilities can make life extraordinarily difficult, but some people have managed to overcome their problems and still be major leaders. We’re going to have a look at a few of them, including:

• An English king
• An American president
• A figure from the classical world

George VI:   Became Well Loved

Thanks to the recent film The King’s Speech, many people around the world are familiar with the story of the English King George VI. The king was in charge at the outbreak of the Second World War. Europe was in an unparalleled state of crisis. The availability of new media such as the radio also meant that a single speech could be heard around the world.  However, George suffered from a terrible stutter that made it almost impossible for him to speak in public with any degree of confidence.

In the face of a potential Nazi invasion, George needed to show his people that he was up to the task of leading them. As a result, he undertook a long series of elocution lessons in order to iron out his stutter. It was an uphill struggle, but George eventually managed it. He turned out to be a capable monarch who was able to lead Britain in a moment of crisis. His ability to overcome his stutter led him to become well loved by the people of Britain.

Roosevelt:  Led USA Out of Crisis

Another crucial leader in a time of crisis was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Roosevelt served as president of the USA from 1933 to 1945.  In that time, he was required to handle a number of major crises both at home and abroad. But from 1921 onwards, Roosevelt had suffered from a crippling paralytic disease that affected multiple aspects of his life. Roosevelt was generally confined to a wheelchair in his later life but still managed to give speeches on his feet, by supporting himself on a podium.

Roosevelt was one of the greatest leaders in history, who played a major role in establishing the new economic models that allowed the US to drag itself out of the Great Depression.  He was also president when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour in 1941 and dragged the US into the Second World War. Roosevelt succeeded in steering America through some real difficulties.

Demosthenes:  Major Greek Orator

Casting further back, Demosthenes was a statesman of Ancient Greece who managed to overcome his speech impediments to become a defining orator and politician of the time. There are accounts of Demosthenes’ difficulties with certain pronunciations, which led him to struggle in his early career in law and rhetoric. However, his talent was evident, and contemporary Aeschines coached him into better speech patterns. As a result, he went on to enjoy a long and successful career.

These are just a few figures from history that have overcome major impediments. There are doubtless many, many more. And some of them we may never actually know about.