"Celebrities and Disability" Exhibition – Raising Awareness of Disabilities in the Workplace
An interactive exhibition to raise awareness about disabilities
Did you know that David Beckham lives with OCD, that Jamel Debbouze lost the use of his right arm, or that Julia Roberts overcame a stutter? Behind the success and fame, many celebrities live with—or have lived with—a disability—one that is often invisible.
Accordia ’s “Celebrities & Disability” exhibition highlights these inspiring stories to change perceptions of disability in the workplace. Through large-format displays featuring prominent figures from the worlds of sports, culture, science, and politics, this interactive exhibition invites your employees to discover that a disability does not define a person.
More than 45 prominent figures, each with an inspiring story
The exhibition features portraits of celebrities from around the world, each of whom has achieved exceptional things despite—or thanks to—their disability:
Physical disability: Jamel Debbouze (lost use of his right arm), Grand Corps Malade (physical disability), Sandra Laoura (paraplegic), Franklin D. Roosevelt (paraplegic), Stephen Hawking (motor neuron disease), Christopher Reeve (quadriplegic), Frida Kahlo (polio).
Visual impairment: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Andrea Bocelli, Gilbert Montagné, José Feliciano—all blind and major figures in the world of music. Louis Braille, inventor of the eponymous writing system. Albert Uderzo, creator of Asterix, was colorblind.
Hearing impairment: Ludwig van Beethoven (deaf), Gabriel Fauré (nearly completely deaf), Ernest Hemingway, Charles Darwin, Sylvester Stallone, Ronald Reagan (hard of hearing or suffering from tinnitus).
Stuttering: Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Molière, Julia Roberts, Aristotle—figures who turned their speech impediment into a strength of expression.
Mental health issues and invisible illnesses: David Beckham (OCD), Justin Timberlake (ADHD and OCD), Vincent van Gogh (mental health issues), John F. Kennedy (Addison’s disease), Edith Piaf (rheumatoid arthritis), Marie Curie (aplastic anemia), Dominique Farrugia (MS).
Other disabilities: Michel Petrucciani (osteogenesis imperfecta), Toulouse-Lautrec (bone deformity), Jessica Cox (the first female pilot without arms), Aimée Mullins (high-fashion model, without legs), Charles Baudelaire (hemiplegia).
A powerful marketing tool for your business
The "Celebrities & Disability" exhibition is designed to be incorporated into your internal events: European Week for the Employment of People with Disabilities (SEEPH), International Day of Persons with Disabilities, diversity weeks, or any CSR initiatives.
Each panel pairs a celebrity’s portrait with a description of their disability and their achievements. The surprise effect is immediate: employees discover that people they admire live with a disability, which effectively breaks down stereotypes.
Practical Details
Format: Large-format, freestanding display panels
Installation: Lobby, cafeteria, meeting room, coworking space
Recommended duration: 1 to 2 weeks
Audience: All employees; no registration required
Activities: Option to accompany the exhibition with an awareness-raising workshop led by Accordia
Why choose this exhibition?
In France, 12 million people have a disability, 80% of whom have an invisible disability. The exhibition "Celebrities & Disability" offers the opportunity to:
• Change perceptions of disability through concrete, positive examples
• Foster dialogue among employees on a topic that is often avoided
• Highlight strengths rather than limitations
• Strengthen your disability policy with an awareness-raising tool accessible to all
