If you think that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only United States president with a disability, think again. Our nation has had a distinguished line of presidents with a variety of visible and non-visible disabilities, from epilepsy to hearing impairments to learning disabilities. For most of these men, speaking publicly about their disability was discouraged during their lifetime. [1] Today, we honor them for overcoming the challenges they faced as individuals with disabilities and for leading and serving our country. [2] William Jefferson Clinton, 1946- (hearing impairment) 42nd President of the United States (1992-2000); wears hearing aids. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890-1969 (learning disability) 34th President of the United States (1953-1960); leader of the victorious Allied forces in Europe during World War II. Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826 (learning disability) 3rd President of the United States (1801-1809); author of the Declaration of Independence; remembered as a great president, a diplomat, political thinker, and founder of the Democratic Party; reported to have many learning difficulties. John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 (learning disability, chronic back pain) 35th President of the United States (1960-1963); the youngest man ever elected President and the youngest ever to die in office; won world respect as the leader of the Free World. Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865 (major depression) 16th President (1860-1863); suffered from severe, incapacitating, and occasional suicidal depression; also thought to have Marfan Syndrome. James Madison, 1751-1836 (epilepsy) 4th President (1809-1817); drafted the Bill of Rights; often referred to as the Father of the Constitution; played a leading role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 where he helped design the checks and balances system that equalizes the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; also created the federal system. Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004 (hearing impairment) 40th President of the United States (1980-1988); also served two terms as governor of California; in 1932 became a radio announcer for WOC in Davenport, Iowa and later WHO in Des Moines, Iowa; in 1937 he signed a contract with Warner Brothers and his first film was “Love is on the Air.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945 (polio) 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945); promised to create jobs for the unemployed and gave assistance to those in need; suffered with polio and worked very hard to hide the extent of his disability. Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919 (visual impairment) 26th President of the United States (1901-1909); founder of the Progressive Party; an avid boxer, he suffered a severe blow to the head that detached his retina and led to blindness in the affected eye. [3] George Washington, 1732-1799 (learning disability) 1st President of the United States (1789-1797); was unable to spell throughout his life and his grammar usage was very poor; thought to have learning disabilities. Woodrow Wilson, 1856-1924 (learning disability) 28th President of the United States (1913-1921); had a stroke toward the end of his term that left him partially paralyzed; known to have a dyslexia; World War I leader awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Versailles Treaty, 1919; domestic reforms included 1914 creation of Federal Reserve. Visit www.askearn.org for information on the definition and prevalence of disability and current workforce trends, return to work programs, resources on non-visible disabilities, encouraging disability disclosure, and more. _______________________________ [1] “A History of the Presidency – Illness and disability.” Profiles of U.S. Presidents. Web. 27 February 2014. <http://www.presidentprofiles.com/General-Information/A-History-of-the-Presidency-Illness-and-disability.html> [2] “Disability Trivia: Presidents with Disabilities.” The Ability Center of Greater Toledo. Web. 27 February 2014. <http://www.abilitycenter.org/disability-culture-and-resources/disability-trivia> [3] “Teddy Roosevelt’s little-known secret.” Chicago Tribune Lifestyles. Web. 6 March 2014. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-07/features/0210070158_1_boxing-final-bout-theodore-roosevelt-association>