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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New Perspectives and Horizons

September 14, 2020  /  bill barkeley

National Parks Access Pass

A free lifetime passes for people with disabilities

Arches National Park - Windows

Arches National Park - Windows

The National Parks offers a free lifetime pass for those with permanent disabilities to enjoy the Great Outdoors. It is an amazing gift for people to have to share experiences with family and friends.

Today, we hiked over 10 miles throughout Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The passage of time, combined the natural forces of wind, sun and water has carved a beautiful desert landscape that is dramatic and captivating.

Rilo, my service dog from #GuideDogsfortheBlind did yeoman’s job hiking all over the terrain for the entire day. She guided me up and down rock faces, through trails and brush and many steps through boulders with a true spirit of adventure!

Here she is taking me up up some steep elevations on a monolith in the rising heat of the desert.

Rilo takes a break on the way up the mountain.

Rilo takes a break on the way up the mountain.

Nothing like a black lab with snout dripping in ice cold water from her Yeti Rambler on a hot day!

Nothing like a black lab with snout dripping in ice cold water from her Yeti Rambler on a hot day!

We are headed to Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks next and we will keep you posted!

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tags / USH2020, #NPS, #blindness, #accessibility, #deafblind, #disability, #disabilityawareness, #dogsofinstagram, #adventure, #visionimpairment, #visually impaired, #YETI