Annette funicello health status examples

Annette Funicello, 70, helped remove stigma from disability
By Denise A. Valenti

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Annette Funicello died April 8 at the age of 70. In 1992, she acknowledged to the world "life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful" with her very public announcement that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis, a disease that involves an immune system attack against the central nervous system.

INDUSTRY PULSE Do you think Annette Funicello helped bring acceptance to people with disabilities?

Funicello had achieved an incredible level of success as a performer.

She is most often remembered for her singing and dancing performances while working with Disney as an original Mouseketeer. Many may recall her reign as a beautiful teen queen in the beach movies of the 1960s, and a younger generation saw her squeaky-clean mom personality used to promote peanut butter on television.

But for those within the MS community, Funicello will be remembered f