The 37-year old Claudio Vieira de Oliveira was given a zero chance of survival after he was born with an astonishing condition of his severe disabilities, but he has defied all the medical odds to become an inspirational public speaker.

    Claudio’s neck is folded right back on itself, leaving his head permanently upside-down. He suffers from various disabilities including deformed legs, with almost no use of his arms and hands. Claudio had always wanted to be independent; and he begged his mother from a young age to let him go to school, despite not being able to use a wheelchair because of his unusual shape.

   His first stroke of self-reliance came at eight, when he began to walk on his knees, after years of being carried around everywhere by family and friends. This prompted the family to change the floor of their house to prevent him from injuring himself. Following this he had his bed, plugs and lights made lower so....