Role models are often just ordinary people who wanted to do the same as everyone else, but ... society didn't expect them to.  By fighting against low expectations or even restrictions, and becoming 'the first ... to ...' they find themselves inspiring others: people who had learned helplessness, had not yet thought things could be different

 The first blind painter, the first deaf professor, the first amputee doctor... 

Some examples:

An interpreter at a ministry could speak 6 languages, but never having been taught Braille he was illiterate.

A deaf-blind Iranian woman is doing a PhD in Italy, in Italian literature.  She apologised for her 'bad English', which was at a good Intermediate level

A profoundly Deaf student (deaf from birth, who never having heard any sounds had to learn the concept and use of his country's language through special intensive training aged 3-5) graduated from the Middle East Technical University (Ankara, TR) having taken all courses in English, as well as all Spanish classes.  He has been learning German before leaving to do a PhD in Hamburg (DE).  His mother tongue being Turkish Sign Language, he has recently picked up enough International Sign and ASL (American Sign Language) to be able to give presentations.  The key to his success was his grandmother, who refused to let him be put into special education: she believed he could succeed.