Itzhak perlman biography disability living assistance

When renowned musician and conductor Itzhak Perlman checks in at an airport—something he does frequently with his busy international touring schedule—he often has the same frustrating experience.

Itzhak perlman biography disability living assistance

“I'll go up to the counter and they won't talk to me,” he says. “Instead, they'll talk to my assistant. ‘Where is he going? What's the weight of his scooter?’ I always have to say, loudly, ‘I'm right here.’ It's quite incredible.”

Perlman, who contracted polio when he was 4 years old, has walked with leg braces and canes for most of his life.

Now 77, he primarily uses a motorized scooter to get around. Although he never sought the role of advocate for other people with disabilities, his fame has provided visibility, and his frequent travels have given him insight into the stigma and obstacles to accessibility people with disabilities face when they want to do something as simple as eat in a restaurant, go to a concert, stay in a