Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24, 1965) is an American actress, author, and activist. She (1986) and to date is the only deaf performer to have won an Academy Award. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy nominations. Deaf since she was 18 months old, due to illness and high fevers, she is also a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf. Her longtime interpreter is Jack Jason.

Career Highlights & Awards:

1986 – Won the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Children of a Lesser God”

2014 – Won the Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards for disability advocacy

2016 – Received the 2016 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion. (A $120,000 prize given annually by the Jay Ruderman of the Ruderman Family Foundation to one individual whose work excels at promoting disability inclusion)

Roy Frank “RJ” Mitte III (born in Jackson, Mississippi on August 21, 1992) is an American actor, producer, and model. He is best known for his role as Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on the AMC series Breaking Bad (2008–13). Like his character on the show, he has cerebral palsy. After moving to Hollywood in 2006, he began training with personal talent manager Addison Witt. They sought acting opportunities where his disability would serve to educate viewers, which led him to audition for the role in Breaking Bad.

Career Highlights:
2013 – Mitte received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his portrayal of Walter White, Jr. on the series; The Screen Actors Guild named Mitte as the spokesman for actors with disabilities and he is the representative of “Inclusion in the Arts and Media of Performers with Disabilities”, which employs artists with disabilities.

2014 – Modeled for a Gap campaign

Activism:
– Appeared on the cover of the February/March 2015 issue of Neurology Now (published by the American Academy of Neurology). The issue included a short biography and his views on cerebral palsy, bullying, and his acting career. He is also a celebrity ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy.

James Anthony Abbott (born in Flint, Michigan on September 19, 1967) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played despite having been born without a right hand. He played ten seasons in MLB for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers from 1989 to 1999.

Career Highlights & Awards:

1986 – Abbott was presented with the United States Sports Academy’s Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias Courage Award for his courageous action in overcoming adversity to excel in sports

1987 – Abbott won the Golden Spikes Award

1992 – Abbott was awarded the Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually by the Boston Red Sox to a Major League player who overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of the Boston Star

1993 – Pitched a no-hitter on September 4, 1993

2014 – Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards