10 Films That Prove Disability Doesn't Hold You Back

10. Ray (2004)

Kicking off the list is the true story of American soul legend, Ray Charles. The film traces the path he took from a humble Southern upbringing, his blindness at the age of seven and the rise to almost mythical status in the Fifties and Sixties. Portrayed by an Oscar-winning Jamie Foxx, Ray is a riveting example of the life you can lead regardless of disability. Taylor Hackford captures the essence of a life with physical impairment in a number of key scenes; in the sense that it doesn't inhibit on a person's life as much as it provides that little bit extra to their personality. For Ray, the only moments of discomfort or uncertainty due to blindness are the beginning steps as a child, but he learns quickly - in no small thanks to his mother's insistence - that he must be independent. Instead the film shifts the focus to his ascension to the top of the music charts and his personal troubles with drugs and adultery. If he has any troubles, the inability to see is not one of them. The film also targets civil rights troubles rife at the time with Ray refusing to play to a segregated audience. This act, along with his unique way of using his shoes to detect doors and touching a woman's wrists to judge her beauty, are just a few details that form Ray Charles as a man touched by disability but gifted a superhuman talent.