John Dalton developed atomic theory, transforming modern chemistry. He was also one of the first people to document color blindness — in fact, the condition “Daltonism” is named after him.

How color blindness hindered him:
Dalton sometimes misidentified chemicals and samples that were labeled or distinguished by color. This caused confusion in experiments and sometimes made tasks slower or more complicated.

How color blindness helped him:
His curiosity about his own vision led him to study how perception works, influencing early research in optics and the science of color. His careful approach to observation helped him build atomic theory with precision and logic rather than relying on color-based indicators.

Why he matters:
Dalton shows that challenges can spark scientific curiosity — and that inclusive design (like color-blind-friendly graphs) makes science accessible to all.

Now that you’ve learned about the scientist, use the button below to explore a ProQuest Guided Research Topic related to their disability, learning difference, or way of thinking.

Read the information and add notes to your note-taker about:

• What the condition is

• Common challenges

• Common strengths

• Tools or strategies that support people with this difference

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