JEFFERSON Thomas, 1743-1826, (learning disability),
Third President of the United States 1801-1809 and 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.
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JENNER Bruce, 1949-present, (learning disability),
Olympic Decathlon champion who barely got through school. Diagnosed as a dyslexic and he found that through spots he could hold his head up with friends and feel good about himself. Sports gave him better self esteem. Won gold medal in decathlon 1960 Olympics.
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JEWELL Geri, 1956-present, (cerebral palsy),
As a comedian with cerebral palsy, she does stand-up comedy and was on the television series Facts of Life. She jokes about cerebral palsy and even exploits it.
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JOAN of Arc, 1412-1431, (epilepsy),
A national heroine, Jeanne d' Arc is the patron saint of France. She rescued France from defeat in one of the darkest periods of the Hundred Year-War with England. She has often been called the Maid of Orleans in honor of her victory with the siege to the city of Orleans. The English saw her as an agent of the devil. She was imprisoned and tried on charges of witchcraft and heresy. She continued to insist that her visions and voices came from God. She was burned at the stake on May 30 1431. In 1455, her family asked for a new trial to reconsider the charges against her. Pope Callistus III granted a hearing and in 1456 he pronounced her innocent. Pope Benedict XV declared her a saint in 1920. Her feast day is the day of her death May 30.
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JOHN Elton [Reginald Kenneth Dwight], 1947-present, (epilepsy),
English pop music composer and performer, has recorded over 25 albums, hits including Rocket Man 1972, Philadelphia Freedom 1975, Wrap Her Up 1985, Grammy Award 1981, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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JOHNSON Erving [Magic] [Dr. J.], 1959-present, (learning disability),
Magic Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to 5 NBA Championships in the 1980's. He picked up three League MVP's and three Finals MVP's. In November 1991 he retired because he contracted HIV. Learning disability is in the area of reading.
{45}

JOHNSON Samuel, 1709-1784, (mental disorder),
Was known to have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Was the greatest English writer of his day. His satire London 1738 written in the style of the Roman satirist Juvenal brought him to the attention of the public. The Vanity of Human Wishes 1749 and 1755 he produced almost single-handedly the Dictionary of the English Language. In 1765 he edited an eight volume edition of Shakespeare's plays.
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JONES James Earl, 1931-present, (speech)
American actor who won Tonys for The Great White Hope 1969. Fences 1987, won 1991 Emmy for Gabriel's Fire awarded National Medal of Arts 1992. Stuttered as a child and used acting as a means to develop speaking skills.
{4}

JORDAN Barbara, 1936-1996, (multiple sclerosis),
She was a very strong willed woman. After hearing a black lawyer named Edith Sampson she decided to become a lawyer. In 1959 she earned her law degree. In 1964 she ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representative and failed. In 1966 she ran for a seat in the Senate and became the first black woman to work in the Texas Senate. In 1971 she was elected to the House of Representatives (United States Congress). In 1973 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis of which confined her to a wheelchair. This did not stop her. She ran for a fourth term in the house and won. She was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and found herself in the middle of a major political drama of the century (impeachment of President Nixon). She also worked to improve conditions for the poor and those in need.
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JORDAN Irving King, 1943-present, (hearing impairment),
Irving's life changed in an instant one night in 1964 when his motorcycle struck an oncoming car. His skull was fractured. He became deaf at the age of 21. He adjusted to the world around him and enrolled at Gallaudet University. He graduated in 1970 and went on to obtain his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Tennessee. In 1973 he got his degree and returned to Gallaudet to teach. In 1988 he became the President of Gallaudet following a student protest for a deaf president. He became the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.
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JOYCE James, 1882-1941, (visual impairment),
Irish novelist who revolutionized the treatment of plot and characterization in fiction. Suffered painful eye disease for most of his adult life and became almost blind despite many operations.
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