March 29 - Today's post contributed by Alyson Beecher
Woman Who Faced Amazing Challenges & Succeeded
by Alyson Beecher
My simple search produced some familiar names and some names that were new to me. Helen Keller was obviously on the list but so was Harriet Tubman, and Frida Kahlo. Each of these women have numerous biographies written about them in both picture book and long-form. The famous photographer, Dorothea Lange is well known for her photography but lesser known for the limp she grew up with as a result of polio when she was a child. Wilma Mankiller, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, has a chapter in a picture book celebrating famous woman and her work with the Cherokee Nation, but did you know she also served in this position while having a rare form of muscular dystrophy? Really, just a chapter in a picture book?
However, I learned about some other woman who had made notable contributions to their communities and countries and yet, little were written about them. Jhamak Ghimire who has severe cerebral palsy and considered the “Helen Keller of Nepal” has nothing written about her in the United States, except for her own work of poetry. Judy Neumann, and Harilyn Rousso have had significant careers and lives advocating for individuals with disabilities and yet despite their life's work would not be easily recognized by most teachers and children.
After serving on the Schneider Family Book Award Jury (a children’s and young adult book award committee of the American Library Association) for the past few years, I have read a lot of books featuring individuals with special needs. However, in the category for young children, with the exception of books about Helen Keller, there were no books portraying the lives of any of these other amazing woman and the work that they have done while also living with additional challenges. Do we have a book gap? I would certainly say yes.
Though this is not a comprehensive list by any means, I would like to highlight the lives of just a few of the incredible woman who embody the spirit and essence that surrounds Women’s History Month and who are also powerful role models for our young readers who may be empowered to dream beyond their special needs because of these amazing women.
![]() |
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Kadir Nelson |
![]() |
Frida by Jonah Winter; Illustrated by Ana Juan |
![]() |
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales |
One of the things that have always struck me is how Frida Kahlo was able to utilize her pain and life experiences to produce so many amazing pieces of art. As a child, she contracted polio and was left with a limp, then at 18 she was in a serious bus accident, which left her in chronic pain. Kahlo lived a colorful live with her marriage to artist Diego Rivera and her political activism.
![]() |
Dorothea Lange by Mike Venezia |
![]() |
Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee; Illustrated by Megan Halsey, Sean Addy |
![]() |
Photo of Wilma Mankiller taken at the 2001 Cherokee National Holiday. Photo by Phil Konstantin |
![]() |
Harilyn Rousso |
![]() |
Judith Heumann, Photo from U.S. State Department |
![]() |
"Jhamakawarded" by Madan Puraskar org . Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jhamakawarded.jpg#/media/File:Jhamakawarded.jpg |
![]() |
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport; Illustrated by Matt Tavares |
What strikes me about each of these women is how hard they must have worked. Each one of these women shows us what is possible despite our personal limitations. When I think of the headaches that Harriet Tubman experienced or the chronic pain of Frida Kahlo, I am in awe. Pain is hard and yet, neither of these women allowed it to stop them from accomplishing what they were meant to do.
Mankiller, Heumann, and Rousso dedicated their lives to advocating for others. When I look at the accomplishments of these women, I almost feel like an underachiever. They have not allowed what might be seen by others as limitations to limit them.
Lange, Kahlo, and Ghimire have used their experiences to enhance their artistic expression. Ghimire is particularly inspiring in that her own country as well as her body would have left her without a voice and yet through her writing she has found that voice.
Next time, I find myself thinking I am unable to do something, I need to remind myself how much each of these women have contributed to their communities and even the world by what they were able to accomplish while facing incredible challenges.

Thanks for sharing, nice post! Post really provice useful information!
ReplyDeleteHương Lâm chuyên cung cấp máy photocopy và dịch vụ cho thuê máy photocopy giá rẻ, uy tín TP.HCM với dòng máy photocopy toshiba và dòng máy photocopy ricoh uy tín, giá rẻ.
Thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeletePheeta is the best online shopping sites for Salwar suits for women and woman Kurti online in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Visit us at our website for more fancy and attractive dresses and Kurtas.
Wow its a great blog.
ReplyDeleteBest Jewellery Wholesaler in Jaipur is Ratnavali. It is a best place to buy silver jewellery Jaipur, Jaipuri gold jewellery, gemstone figures in Jaipur, Rajasthan. We have skilled craftsmanship who made best designer collection of jewellery for you.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information.
ReplyDeleteApparrant is the leading UX UI Design agency having experienced designers and developers working throughout the year on important and life changing products. We have been awarded as top UI UX Design agency in India by multiple agencies. If you are looking for best UX Design Agency in Noida, UI UX Design Agency in Faridabad, and UX UI Design Company in Delhi then Apparrant is best for you.
The awesome blog shares good information with everyone. I will bookmark it in the future.
ReplyDeleteFrance Education Consultants in Australia is GIEC Global. We are top Education consultants for Norway in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Australia. We are best education consultants for Netherlands in Australia. We also helps people in studying in Ireland and have been awarded as education consultants for Ireland in Melbourne and education consultant for Finland in Australia.
Thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteApptians is the best SEO company for ecommerce and SEO Agency for Pharmaceutical Industry in Delhi NCR, Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, India. Top Best Medical SEO Agency , Best SEO For Private School Website ,and Best SEO Agency for Real State .
Thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteApptians is the Best SEO for Dermatologist and SEO for Dentists in Delhi NCR, Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, India. Top SEO For Cosmetic Surgeons , SEO for online boutique,and Best SEO Company for Logo Designing .
MEDLEY CANDLE - ROSE GOLD (RED BERRIES) ,BLOOM CANDLE ,CITRINE CANDLE ,LEATHER CANDLE , NOIR CANDLE ,AQUA CANDLE ,
ReplyDeleteBLANC CANDLE ,AMAZONIA CANDLE (RED BERRIES) , CAPRI CANDLE (AQUA) , AGRA CANDLE (BLANC) , SET OF 4 CANDLES , SET OF 2 CANDLES
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteApptians is the Best SEO for Travel Agency and SEO Agency for Restaurants Industry in Delhi NCR, Noida, Faridabad, Gurgaon, India. Top Best SEO Agency For Clothing Brand , Best SEO for Law firms,and Best SEO Company for Jewelry Website .
Fantastic details! We appreciate you providing this information for free. You are Awesome. Concrete Pros of Oakville
ReplyDelete