Thoughts on reaction to Steven Hawking's death

As I'm laying resting my damp bones here it has been snowing hard so I thought I'd write a few thoughts up around disability in the light of Professor Steven Hawking's death not least reaction to that as much had been written not just around his intellectual and professional achievements being inspirational but also of his Motor Nurone disabling him.

 (Source: ITW)
One reason actually I've chosen this picture with Steven on the far left was it was taken in 1977 and like him I also used a BEC electric wheelchair which were made in the Black Country around the same era, showing him with his then wife and children, being a family.
Steven's condition left him with what I'd call an 'output problem', one in a differing context I share  where while he knew - and was very gifted intellectually - what he wanted to communicate, putting that over especially into words was hard going and required assistive technology.
In one sense I feel Steve's achievements showed physical disability by itself isn't a barrier to learning in an era when many physically disabled children received a sub-standard education taking no public examinations because of the attitude of "You won't be able to get on in life" and Steven himself received a Grammar School education prior to developing MND.
The otherside of some public reaction to seeing that is to argue every disabled person is capable of learning to the same degree which I'd say isn't true even if there is a lot of mileage in saying different ways of teaching do aid learning  and the traditional one whole learning style approach doesn't work making learning harder for those of us with learning difficulties.
The other area is that his achievements were aided by the support he received in studying and personal care tailored around his needs and the times he required that whereas many disabled people in education often receive little and those outside feel they spend more of their time on battling to get appropriate personal needs paid for and met. It's not unknown for disabled people to put to bed as early as 8PM because it suits the care system who provide home helps where you may wish to be out for longer.
Influence at least in this society does make a difference and the sort of family and social class does count for something not that I'm personally against using any connections to advance you or your families needs being recognized and he was in a better position than many in that respect.
That support can make or break your attempt to break out of the cycle of low achievement helping the individual  to make the most of their abilities including their academic and vocational ones  many disabled people through no fault of their own find themselves.
So to conclude like many I was inspired by Steven's achievements and ability beyond his very real disabilities, one should not forget not everyone is the same and not all have the support system advantages he was able to get (and rightly) that greatly aided it.