Bill Barkeley

deaf-blind adventurer, advocate, author & storyteller (public speaker)

605 Lovett Avenue Southeast East Grand Rapids, MI, 49506 United States

616-780-9432

Bill is a deaf-blind adventurer, advocate, author & public speaker (storyteller) that speaks and delivers adventure projects to inspire people around the world - disabled or not - on building a pioneering, adventuring spirit and overcoming the challenges in their lives.

Bill's work is about helping others get to a better place in this world and paying it forward in a life that has been rich and fulfilling beyond his wildest imagination.

Bill's groundbreaking climb as the first deaf-blind person to summit Mount Kilimanjaro was covered on Good Morning America.

The story was to share a personal journey about building a life within the context of your abilities and disabilities.

In Bill’s case, the journey is an inexorable march further and further into darkness and silence.

He is a pioneer with assistive technologies for the hearing impaired / deaf, the vision impaired / blind and those with dual sensory challenges -the deaf-blind.

Bill is one of 15,000 in the United States and 100,000 in the world with Usher's Syndrome which progressively robs its victims of both hearing and vision over the course of their lifetime. There are currently no treatments and cures.

See why in many ways he believes that it may be the best thing that ever happened to him.

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Barriers are real.

That said, we can overcome and transcend them.

I do adventures because I want to do them. Not because someone told me I couldn't, shouldn't or want to. I do not propose to do adventures the same was as "able-bodied" people. I like to think of myself as a person with an unusual mind and body. I see and envision a world of "No Barriers" where any person can have transformative life experiences that empowers them to take on the barriers in one's life and discover the potential that lies within themselves and the world.

Bill Barkeley

In 2009, Bill was awarded the No Barriers USA - James O. Goldsmith Pioneering Spirit Award. The award was created to recognize the individual or organization that passionately and selflessly works to break down the barriers that limit accessibility to life. Through pioneering spirit, focused determination, innovative spirit and tireless effort, the recipient is recognized for opening the door to adventure for others. Later that year, at the invitation of Erik Weihenmayer (the first blind man to summit Mount Everest), Bill joined No Barriers USA as a board member.  

Ever since, Bill has tireless worked with his rope team at No Barriers USA to help thousands in our community to overcome and transcend the barriers and challenges in their lives.

Bill Barkeley is the co-author of the No Barriers Life Elements which are the principles the organization shares and uses to create transformative life experiences and break through individual barriers and lead the change needed to adapt, grow and strengthen our global community at-large.

No Barriers Mission:

To unleash the potential of the human spirit. Through transformative experiences, tools and inspiration, we help people embark on a quest to contribute their absolute best to the world. In the process, we foster a community of curious, brave and collaborative explorers who are determined to live the No Barriers Life.

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Bill speaks and writes extensively on his adventures and his experiences as a co-author of the No Barriers Life Elements.

To find out more about No Barriers USA:

www.nobarriersusa.org