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Tzvi Schectman
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The funniest of the palsies: 5 Comedians with Cerebral Palsy [VIDEO]

There is a misconception that individuals with cerebral palsy do not have the skills to compete in the workplace without support or accommodations. It's time to take a look around you and realize that among the special needs community you have some amazingly talented people in the workforce. Whether it's in technology, education, the arts or another field you will always find individuals with cerebral palsy in the top of their field. One line of work that employs a number of individuals with cerebral palsy may come as a surprise. Yes the funny business! Check out these five comedians with cerebral palsy, not only are they the funniest of the palsies but some of the funniest people in the world!

Zach Anner

Zach Anner was born two months premature on November 17,1984. Born in a town near Buffalo New York. Zach burst onto the world scene when he won the video submission contest run by the Oprah Winfrey  Network. Zach currently hosts a travel show on the OWN network called Rollin' With Zach.  Zach takes an authentic and often humorous approach to seeing the country.

Will Marfori

Will Marfori doesn't allow cerebral palsy to keep him from entertaining audiences.Some people in Will's life have told him, "You can't do that… or you can't do this…" Will has never stopped proving them wrong:  2nd place winner of the 2003 World Series of Comedy, and the Winner of the 2004 Carnival Comedy Challenge, he is now a regular featured comedian for Carnival Cruise lines.

Chris Fonseca

Chris is known as the  Original Sit-down Comic.  He is the first person with a visible disability to entertain on the Late Night Show with David Lettermen. Chris allows his Cerebral Palsy to be the foundation of many of his stories. He notes that his helps to break down many preconceived barriers about CP. For fifteen years now, he has had collegiate, corporate and association audiences rolling with him in the aisles.

Josh Blue

Josh Blue exploded onto the national comedy scene by capturing the attention and endearment of the country as the winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing.  Having already established himself as one of the most sought after comedians on the college circuit, his weekly appearances on Last Comic in the summer of 2006 expanded his fan base exponentially.  Most recently, Josh debuted a new special, Comedy Central Presents: Josh Blue, which received rave reviews from fans and critics alike.

Geri Jewell

Geri Jewell is best known as Cousin Geri on the NBC sitcom, “The Facts of Life”. She was the first person with a disability to have a regular role on a prime time series. She began her career doing stand up comedy at the Comedy Store in 1978. In 1980 she performed at the 2nd Annual Media Access Awards. After her ground breaking role on “Facts” she has appeared on such shows as “The Great Space Coaster”, the Emmy award winning movie “Two of a Kind”, “Sesame Street”, “21 Jump Street”, “Young and the Restless”, “Strong Medicine” and the HBO hit series, “Deadwood.”

WRITTEN ON November 19, 2013 BY:

Tzvi Schectman

Tzvi Schectman is the Family Coordinator for the Friendship Circle of Michigan and the Editor of the the Friendship Circle Blog. You can connect with Tzvi on LinkedIn and Google+