"Alan Anderson Reich" was the founder of the National Organization on Disability. In 1962 Reich sustained severe spinal injuries in a diving accident, making him a wheelchair user for the rest of his life. Afterwards, Reich returned to Polaroid Corporation/Polaroid where he served as an executive in manufacturing management and corporate long-range planning until 1970, when he became the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. In 1982 he founded the National Organization on Disability.

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In the time of FDR, he felt it would not have been politically expedient for him to be seen often in his wheelchair. He thought people would take that as a sign of weakness.

This is a great victory for the disability community. But, you know, it's also a larger victory for the many people who in their lives in one way or another triumph over adversity.