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List of physically disabled politicians

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The following is a list of politicians who hold or held office while having a physical disability.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Afghanistan

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Algeria

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Argentina

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Armenia

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Australia

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Federal
State

Austria

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Brazil

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Name Party (most recent) Office(s) Notes
Roseane Cavalcante de Freitas Avante Federal Deputy for Alagoas (2011–2014), (2016–2018) Poliomyelitis
Mara Gabrilli Social Democratic Party Senator for São Paulo (2019–current)

Federal Deputy for São Paulo (2011–2019)

Tetraplegic due to a car accident
Paulo Ganime New Party Federal Deputy for São Paulo (2019–2023) Congenital malformation
Amom Mandel Citizenship Federal Deputy for Amazonas (2023–current) Autism
Felipe Rigoni Brazil Union Federal Deputy for Espírito Santo (2019–2022) Blind
Golbery do Couto e Silva National Renewal Alliance Chief of Staff of the Presidency (1974–1981) Blind in one eye
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Workers' Party President of Brazil (2003–2011), (2023–current)

Federal Deputy for São Paulo (1989–1991), (1987–1989)

Lost his left pinky finger from a machine accident
Walter Tosta Liberal Party Federal Deputy for Minas Gerais (2011–2015)

State Deputy of Minas Gerais (2007–2011)

Paraplegic

Cambodia

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Canada

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Colombia

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Czech Republic

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Dominican Republic

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Ecuador

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  • Lenín Moreno, former President (2017–2021) and former Vice President (2007–2013) (paraplegic)[3]

Estonia

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Fiji

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  • Iliesa Delana, member of Parliament and Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports (since 2014); Paralympic gold medallist (leg amputee due to an accident as a child)

France

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Gabon

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Germany

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Gibraltar

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Hungary

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  • Béla II, King of Hungary (1131–1141) (blinded by his father's political opponents in 1113)
  • Ferenc Hirt, Member of Parliament for Tamási (2006–2018) (wheelchair user since 1988 due to a car accident)
  • Katalin Szili, Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary (lost hand from undisposed grenade explosion at age 12)[8]

India

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Indonesia

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Iran

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Ireland

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Israel

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Jamaica

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Japan

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Kingdom of Jerusalem

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Malaysia

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  • Ras Adiba Radzi, current member of senator (full-time wheelchair user, due to car accident on 15 November 1995, with her veterba was injured)[10]
  • Karpal Singh, member of parliament for Bukit Gelugor (a full-time wheelchair user, due to car accident, with neurological problems in his right arm)[11]

Mexico

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New Zealand

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  • Adam Adamson, Mayor of Invercargill (born without right hand)
  • Leon Götz, MP 1949–1963 (lost right arm and eye during the First World War)
  • Norman Jones, MP 1975–1987 (leg amputee; war wound during Second World War)
  • John A. Lee, MP 1922–1943 (arm amputee; war wound during the First World War)[12]
  • Mojo Mathers, MP 2011–2017 (born deaf)
  • Clutha McKenzie, MP 1921–1922 (blinded at Gallipoli during the First World War)
  • Margaret Wilson, MP 1999–2008 (leg amputee)

Norway

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Philippines

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Poland

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Republic of Korea

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Republic of Venice

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Roman Empire

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Romania

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Russia

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San Marino

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Solomon Islands

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  • Martin Magga, Minister for Health (became ill and needed to use a wheelchair in 2009 while serving); resigned from the Cabinet but retained his seat in Parliament in the 2010 general election; served as MP, in a wheelchair, until his death in 2014

Spain

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  • Pablo Echenique, member of the Congress of Deputies (wheelchair user due to spinal muscular atrophy)
  • Charles II of Spain, ruled 1665–1700, described by historians Will and Ariel Durant as "short, lame, epileptic, senile and completely bald before 35, always on the verge of death but repeatedly baffling Christendom by continuing to live." An autopsy reported that his "heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water."

Syria

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Sri Lanka

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  • Senarath Attanayake, Member of Uva Provincial Council; first elected representative with a disability in Sri Lanka; first person with a disability to hold ministerial portfolios (Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Land and Forestry) and to become an Acting Chief Minister of a Province; first person with a disability to become a lawyer in Sri Lanka (full-time wheelchair user due to polio infection at the age of two)
  • Sugath Wasantha De Silva, Member of Parliament (National List) NPP. First blind and disabled person select the Parliament of Sri Lanka.[17]

Sweden

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  • David Lega, wheelchair user, congenital. MEP. Second vice minister of Christian Democrats.

Thailand

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  • Rama IX, King of Thailand 1946-2016 (blind in one eye for most of his reign following a road accident)

Timurid Empire

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  • Timur, Amir of the Timurid Empire 1370–1405, injured by two arrow wounds to his right leg and arm, rendering them unusable, also known as "Timur the Lame," or Tamerlane.

Turkey

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  • Deniz Baykal, former leader of the CHP, member of the house of councils. (paralyzed)

Ukraine

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United Kingdom

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United States

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Name Party State Office(s) Notes
Greg Abbott Republican Texas Governor of Texas
Attorney General of Texas 		Paraplegic due to a 1984 freak accident when a falling oak tree hit him in the back[20]
Jim Baird Republican Indiana U.S. Representative Lost his left arm during a combat injury in the Vietnam War[21]
Roswell P. Bishop Republican Michigan U.S. Representative Amputee, lost right arm in American Civil War
Madison Cawthorn Republican North Carolina U.S. Representative Lost use of his legs in a car accident in 2014[22]
Max Cleland Democratic Georgia U.S. Senator Triple amputee, both legs and one arm, due to a grenade blast in the Vietnam War[23]
Tony Coelho Democratic California U.S. Representative Epilepsy[24]
John F. Collins Democratic Massachusetts Mayor of Boston Both he and his children contracted polio
Kristen Cox Republican Maryland 2006 Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Blind from Stargardt disease[25]
Dan Crenshaw Republican Texas U.S. Representative Lost right eye due to an IED attack in Afghanistan[26]
Bob Dole Republican Kansas U.S. Senator
1996 Republican nominee for President of the United States 		Injured arm in World War II[27]
Tammy Duckworth Democratic Illinois U.S. Senator
U.S. Representative 		Lost both of her legs and damaged her right arm due to a rocket propelled grenade attack in the Iraq War[28]
John Porter East Republican North Carolina U.S. Senator Paraplegic due to polio contracted in 1955[29]
Oramel B. Fuller Republican Michigan Michigan Legislator Paraplegic due to accidental fall[30]
Thomas Gore Democratic Oklahoma U.S. Senator Blind from childhood accidents[31]
Chuck Graham Democratic Missouri Missouri Legislator Paraplegic after being involved in an automobile accident at 16[32]
Cyrus Habib Democratic Washington Lieutenant Governor of Washington Blind due to childhood cancer[33]
Daniel Inouye Democratic Hawaii U.S. Senator Lost his right arm due to grenade shrapnel in World War II[27]
Harry Kelly Republican Michigan Governor of Michigan Lost his right leg in World War I
Bob Kerrey Democratic Nebraska Governor of Nebraska
U.S. Senator 		Lost one leg below the knee due to combat injury in the Vietnam War[34]
Mark Kirk Republican Illinois U.S. Senator Had a stroke in 2012, but recovered after nearly a year and a half after receiving physical therapy[35]
Jim Langevin Democratic Rhode Island U.S. Representative Quadriplegic; injured in an accidental shooting when 16[36]
Patrick Leahy Democratic Vermont President pro tempore of the United States Senate
U.S. Senator 		Legally blind in his left eye from birth
Arlon Lindner Republican Minnesota Minnesota Representative Lost parts of two fingers in an accident
Robert Mahoney Democratic Minnesota Minnesota Representative Blind
Charles H. Manly Democratic Michigan Mayor of Ann Arbor Amputee, lost his left arm in American Civil War[citation needed]
Brian Mast Republican Florida U.S. Representative Lost both his legs and one of his fingers when he stepped on an IED in Kandahar[37][38]
John McCain Republican Arizona U.S. Senator Limited use of arms and "off-kilter gait" due to torture as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War[39][40]
Mitch McConnell Republican Kentucky U.S. Senator
Senate Republican Leader 		Upper left leg was paralyzed by a polio attack at age two, but recovered after receiving treatment and physical therapy
Allen B. Morse Democratic Michigan Michigan Senator Amputee, lost his left arm in American Civil War[citation needed]
David Paterson Democratic New York Governor of New York Legally blind from birth[41]
Charles E. Potter Republican Michigan U.S. Senator Amputee, lost legs in World War II
Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic New York President of the United States Paraplegic due to either polio or Guillain–Barré syndrome[42]
Theodore Roosevelt Republican New York President of the United States Blind in one eye after a boxing accident
Doug Spade Democratic Michigan Michigan Representative Blind
Nicholas Sposato Democratic (before 2017) Illinois Chicago City Council Wheelchair user with multiple sclerosis[43]
Independent (2017–present)
John Swainson Democratic Michigan Governor of Michigan Lost both legs due to a land mine in World War II[44]
Jon Tester Democratic Montana U.S. Senator Lost three fingers in a meat grinding accident[45]
F. B. Teter Republican Washington Washington Representative Blind[46]
Benjamin Tillman Democratic South Carolina U.S. Senator Lost eye due to cancer
Mo Udall Democratic Arizona U.S. Representative Lost his right eye in a childhood accident[47]
George Wallace Democratic Alabama Governor of Alabama Paraplegic due to a bullet wound sustained in a 1972 assassination attempt[48]
Woodrow Wilson Democratic New Jersey President of the United States Partially paralyzed due to a stroke[49]

References

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  1. ^ "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.
  2. ^ Legal records from 1378 mention Jan Žižka z Trocnova hinting that if the nickname žižka meant one-eye, early chronologer Aeneus Sylvius Piccolomini, Pius II was correct in stating the loss of the eye was the result of a childhood fight.
  3. ^ John Otis (11 February 2013) Ecuador's Paraplegic Vice President Lenin Moreno a Major Force for Disability Rights Pri.org. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Malu Dreyer und ihr Leben mit Multiple Sklerose: Chronisch krank und doch stark". www.rhein-zeitung.de. 23 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Gehörlose Abgeordnete Heubach: So lief ihr Bundestagsdebüt". ZDFheute (in German). 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  6. ^ Rudolph, Hermann; Casdorff, Stephan-Andreas (6 December 2009). "ZEIT ONLINE | Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl". Die Zeit.
  7. ^ Deutschland, Stiftung Deutsches Historisches Museum, Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik. "Gerade auf LeMO gesehen: LeMO Biografie: Kurt Schumacher". www.hdg.de.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Gránát írta át Szili Katalin életét". 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  9. ^ Luton, Daraine (May 23, 2013). "All Eyes On Newly Appointed Senate President Floyd Morris". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
  10. ^ "Mohd Ali, Ras Adiba angkat sumpah senator". Berita Harian. 20 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Karpal Singh dies in car accident - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  12. ^ "Lee, John Alfred Alexander", Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
  13. ^ Terje Valestrand (6 September 2012) Tove på topp når hun går under Bergens Tidende. Retrieved 22 November 2013 (in Norwegian)
  14. ^ Gjesvik, Anders (10 June 2006). "Hemmetfronten". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  15. ^ Suetonius, The Lives of the Caesars: The Life of Claudius, Chapter 30
  16. ^ Watt, Donald Cameron How War Came, New York: Pantheon Books, 1989 page 175.
  17. ^ "NPP names Visually Impaired Activist to Parliament". Newswire. 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
  18. ^ Bell, Colin, ed. (1975). National Government 1931. Times Books. p. 203.
  19. ^ Lindy McDowell, Northern Ireland is the safest place to be if you are an unborn baby who has a disability, Belfast Telegraph, 5 November 2018 (accessed on 18 July 2019)
  20. ^ Theodore Kim (31 May 2010). "Accident set Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on a path toward politics". dallasnews.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District". Roll Call. 9 May 2018.
  22. ^ Writer, RENEE BINDEWALDTimes-News Staff. "Local teen back home after near-fatal wreck in Fla". Hendersonville Times-News.
  23. ^ Rudi Williams (27 January 2000). "Amputee War Hero U.S. Senator Still Fights for Survival". defense.gov. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  24. ^ "A Congressman Makes His Own Epilepsy a Campaign Issue to Break the Old Taboos". Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Maryland Governor's Running Mate Raises Awareness about Stargardt Disease". blindness.org. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  26. ^ "SEAL veteran Dan Crenshaw's mission: Make the GOP 'cool again'". Washington Examiner. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
  27. ^ a b David M. Shribman (19 December 2012). "The Inouye, Bob Dole connection". jsonline.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  28. ^ Bill Briggs (25 November 2012). "Battle-hardened double amputee to prospective congressional foes: 'Bring it'". usnews.nbcnews.com. nbcnews.com. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  29. ^ Garry Clifford (2 March 1981). "It's Still An Uphill Struggle but Senator John East Persisted to Become 'Helms on Wheels'". people.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  30. ^ "Legislator Details - Oramel Baum Fuller". Library of Michigan. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  31. ^ "GORE, THOMAS PRYOR (1870-1949)". digital.library.okstate.edu. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  32. ^ "Chuck Graham, former state senator, dies at 55". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  33. ^ "Washington Set to Swear in First Blind Lieutenant Governor". Fortune.com. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  34. ^ Lisa Mascaro (6 November 2012). "Bob Kerrey's comeback falls short in Nebraska". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  35. ^ Camia, Catalina (3 January 2013). "Sen. Kirk makes dramatic return after stroke". USA Today. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  36. ^ John R. Parkinson (26 July 2010). "Historic Lift: Wheelchair-Bound Member Presides Over House". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  37. ^ "A Combat Veteran Runs for Congress, and the Scrutiny Intensifies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  38. ^ "Rangers receive awards for recent deployments". Army.mil. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  39. ^ Marc Santora (16 November 2007). "McCain's Stance on Torture Becomes Riveting Issue in Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  40. ^ Joanne Kenen (1 July 2008). "Senators Don't Lead Such Charmed Lives". washingtonian.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  41. ^ Stephanie Salmon (11 March 2008). "10 Things You Didn't Know About David Paterson". usnews.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  42. ^ "Home - FDR Presidential Library & Museum". www.fdrlibrary.org.
  43. ^ "Wheeling into Politics". 3 October 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  44. ^ "Poliomyelitis and the Salk Vaccine". Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  45. ^ "The Democrats' New Populism". Time. 2 July 2006. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011.
  46. ^ "The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association". The Association. November 23, 1920 – via Google Books.
  47. ^ Kaufman, Burton Ira (2009). The Carter Years by Burton Ira Kaufman. Infobase. ISBN 9780816074587. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  48. ^ Richard Pearson (14 September 1998). "Former Ala. Gov. George C. Wallace Dies". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Woodrow Wilson-Strokes and Denial". Retrieved 29 December 2012.
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