Susan Boyle says disabilities shaped her life
April 16th, 2009![Susan Boyle, photo from [UK] Times](http://www.patriciaebauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/20090416_susan-boyle1.jpg "Susan Boyle, photo from [UK] Times")
International singing sensation
From the [UK] Mirror, [UK] Times, CBS News and elsewhere:
By now, just about everybody has heard about Susan Boyle, the plain Scottish spinster whose extraordinary singing voice dumfounded the judges of a British talent show this week. Videos of her thrilling performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” have gotten more than 18 million views on Youtube, and she is already reportedly in talks with a record label.
But what many may not know is that Boyle, an unemployed church worker who cared for her elderly mother until her death two years ago, has a lifelong history of disability. Boyle says she has learning disabilities, the result of oxygen deprivation at birth, and was bullied in school because she was slow and had frizzy hair.
“The ones who made fun of me are now nice to me,” she told CBS News, “so I may have won them round.” She said she hopes her arresting debut on the TV talent show will remind people not to judge by appearances.
(Photo from the [UK] Times)
UPDATE: From Deadine Scotland:
[Boyle] says she hopes the show will highlight her disability too. She said, “I was slightly brain damaged at birth, and I want people like me to see that they shouldn’t let a disability get in the way. I want to raise awareness — I want to turn my disability into ability.”
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May 7th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Dear Susan:
Thank you for your persistence to sing, because that demonstrates that all individuals with cognitive challenges can be successful. I’ve had many cognitive challenges, but they’ve not stopped me from trying to succeed. Best of luck with your angelic voice.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Being recognized nationally or internationally does not ensure happiness or define success for any individual whether they have a disability or not.
May 6th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I am so inspired by you, that I watch you every single day on u-tube and sometimes 4 or 5 times a day and every time I watch it I get goose bumps. I LOVE that you have finally become so successful.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Susan, You are an inspiration to us all & an example of what is good in each of us. Thank you for being perfectly & wonderfully Susan. God has blessed you! Live! ~joanne
April 27th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Susan, you are beautiful! The same thing happened
to me and I live life to the fullest! Look forward
to following your career!
April 25th, 2009 at 4:41 am
Susan, I think you are beautiful, and I love you just the way you are. My son has a ‘learning problem’ but that does not mean he is slow or stupid, it simply means that he marches to the beat of his own drum, that’s all.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Hurray for Susan. For me personally, it was as much her sweetness and her courage when faced with overwhelming animosity, as her powerhouse voice that won me over.
April 18th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Good luck Susan great that you made it to the big time.
April 18th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I live with schizencephaly and a cyst on the brain I have had it all my life.I to want the world to know about problems with the brain.When I tell others about my problem that act like I’m contagious.I always wanted a friend and still I’m looking for one.The only ones I have are my cats.