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'''Spencer West''' is an American [[motivational speaker]] and [[disability advocate]].
{{Short description|American motivational speaker and disability advocate}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Spencer West
| image = Spencer West at We Day Waterloo 2011.jpg
| caption = West in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|1|7}}
| birth_place = [[Rock Springs, Wyoming]], U.S.
| alma_mater = [[Westminster College (Utah)|Westminster College]]
| occupation = [[Motivational speaker]], [[disability advocate]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Spencer West''' (born January 7, 1981) is an American [[motivational speaker]] and [[disability advocate]]. West became an [[amputee]] after being born with [[Sacral Agenesis|sacral agenesis]]. He speaks about overcoming adversity and uses social media to advocate for the disability justice movement and the [[LGBT community|LGBTQ community]].


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Spencer West was born in 1981 in [[Rock Springs, Wyoming]] to Tonette and Kenny West.<ref name=":0" /> He has a sister named Anne.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Matray|first=Margaret|date=2012-05-27|title=Spencer West: Redefining possible|url=https://trib.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/spencer-west-redefining-possible/article_eec201d2-bf9b-525c-b633-f4feeb7fdb87.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Casper Star-Tribune Online|language=en}}</ref> West was born with a birth defect, [[Sacral Agenesis|sacral agenesis]] causing his spine and legs to not work properly. When he was three years old, his legs were amputated to his knees. [[Prosthesis|Prosthetics]] did not work, so doctors removed his legs when West as five years old. He learned to move around using his hands and a wheelchair.<ref name=":0" /> West was bullied as a child for his disability.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Michel|date=2014-07-22|title=Despite Disability, One Mountain Climber Reflects On His Advantages|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/07/22/329504078/despite-disability-one-mountain-climber-reflects-on-his-advantages|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-28|website=NPR|language=en}}</ref> He was a cheerleader at [[Rock Springs High School]]. He attended [[Westminster College (Utah)|Westminster College]] where he studied communications and earned a degree in computer science.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Favaro|first=Avis|date=2012-12-07|title=Finding inspiration and encouraging others despite huge disability|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/finding-inspiration-and-encouraging-others-despite-huge-disability-1.1071201|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-27|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
Spencer West was born on January 7, 1981, in [[Rock Springs, Wyoming]], to Tonette and Kenny West.<ref name=":0" /> He has a sister named Anne.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Matray|first=Margaret|date=2012-05-27|title=Spencer West: Redefining possible|url=https://trib.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/spencer-west-redefining-possible/article_eec201d2-bf9b-525c-b633-f4feeb7fdb87.html|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Casper Star-Tribune Online|language=en}}</ref>


West was born with a birth defect, [[Sacral Agenesis|sacral agenesis]], causing his spine and legs to not work properly. When he was three years old, his legs were amputated to his knees. [[Prosthesis|Prosthetics]] did not work, so doctors removed his legs when West was five years old. He learned to move around using his hands and a wheelchair.<ref name=":0" /> He was bullied as a child for his disability.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Michel|author-link=Michel Martin|date=2014-07-22|title=Despite Disability, One Mountain Climber Reflects On His Advantages|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/07/22/329504078/despite-disability-one-mountain-climber-reflects-on-his-advantages|access-date=2021-02-28|website=NPR|language=en}}</ref>
⚫
== Career ==
After college, West moved to [[Phoenix, Arizona]]<ref name=":1" /> and worked in clothing stores and as a receptionist. He volunteered at a TV newsroom. In 2008, West traveled to Kenya with a friend to support the [[Free the children]]'s school building effort. The trip inspired West to share his personal experiences as an amputee. He joined [[ME to WE]] as an ambassador.<ref name=":0" />


West graduated from [[Rock Springs High School]], where he was a cheerleader. He earned a degree in communications from [[Westminster College (Utah)|Westminster College]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Favaro|first=Avis|date=2012-12-07|title=Finding inspiration and encouraging others despite huge disability|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/finding-inspiration-and-encouraging-others-despite-huge-disability-1.1071201|access-date=2021-02-27|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
At the suggestion of [[Craig Kielburger]], West climbed [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] with his friends David Johnson and Alex Meers in June 2012.<ref name=":1" /> The trio fundraised over $500,000 in support of Free the children charity to provide clean water to 100,000 people in [[East Africa]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


⚫
== Career ==
West is a motivational speaker and shares his personal and medical story. He speaks at schools and to corporations about overcoming adversity.<ref name=":0" />
West moved to [[Phoenix, Arizona]]<ref name=":1" /> and worked as an operations manager at a salon and spa.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schifrin|first=Nick|author-link=Nick Schifrin|date=2012-06-21|title=Man's Extraordinary Kilimanjaro Climb|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/man-climbs-mt-kilimanjaro-hands/story?id=16622673|access-date=2021-02-28|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> He volunteered at a TV newsroom. In 2008, West traveled to Kenya with a friend to support the [[Free the children|Free the Children]]'s school building effort. The trip inspired West to share his personal experiences as an amputee. He joined [[ME to WE]] as an ambassador.<ref name=":0" /> At the suggestion of [[Craig Kielburger]], West climbed [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] with his friends David Johnson and Alex Meers in June 2012.<ref name=":1" /> The trio fundraised over $500,000 in support of Free the Children charity to provide clean water to 100,000 people in [[East Africa]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> West is a motivational speaker and shares his personal and medical story. He speaks at schools and to corporations about overcoming adversity.<ref name=":0" /> After meeting singer [[Demi Lovato]] at a charity event, in 2014, West was an opening speaker during the [[Demi World Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-10-03|title=Inspirational speaker Spencer West opens for Demi Lovato|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/inspirational-speaker-spencer-west-opens-for-demi-lovato|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-10-23|title=Demi Lovato Talks Mental Health on World Tour, Takes 'GMA' Behind the Scenes|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/demi-lovato-talks-mental-health-world-tour-takes/story?id=26389183|access-date=2021-02-28|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref>

The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] impacted West's advocacy efforts; he had previously traveled 200 days a year as a speaker. West developed a following on [[TikTok]] where he posts about the disability justice movement and his personal experiences as a gay [[amputee]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Somos|first=Christy|date=2021-02-16|title='Provide some joy': Disability advocate takes off on TikTok|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/provide-some-joy-disability-advocate-takes-off-on-tiktok-1.5310786|access-date=2021-02-28|website=CTVNews|language=en}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
West resides in [[Toronto]]. He applied for Canadian citizenship after living there for 4 years.<ref name=":0" /> West sufferers from [[tennis elbow]] due to using his arms to walk.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edmiston|first=Jake|date=2012-06-22|title=Meet Spencer West, the legless Toronto man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/meet-spencer-west-the-legless-toronto-man-who-climbed-mount-kilimanjaro|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-28|website=[[National Post]]|language=en-CA}}</ref> He is gay and advocates for disabled members in the [[LGBT community]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cohen|first=Gilad|last2=Ramkisson|first2=Simona|last3=Fragomeni|first3=Brandon|last4=Castellani|first4=Alex|last5=Ma|first5=Ron|date=2019-04-08|title=Motivational speaker Spencer West on living as a gay man with a disability|url=https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/hum-podcast/2019/04/motivational-speaker-spencer-west-living-gay-man-disability|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-28|website=[[rabble.ca]]|language=en}}</ref>
West resides in [[Toronto]]. He applied for Canadian citizenship after living there for 4 years.<ref name=":0" /> West has [[tennis elbow]] due to using his arms to walk.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Edmiston|first=Jake|date=2012-06-22|title=Meet Spencer West, the legless Toronto man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/meet-spencer-west-the-legless-toronto-man-who-climbed-mount-kilimanjaro|access-date=2021-02-28|website=[[National Post]]|language=en-CA}}</ref> He is gay and advocates for disabled members in the [[LGBT community|LGBTQ community]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Gilad|last2=Ramkisson|first2=Simona|last3=Fragomeni|first3=Brandon|last4=Castellani|first4=Alex|last5=Ma|first5=Ron|date=2019-04-08|title=Motivational speaker Spencer West on living as a gay man with a disability|url=https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/hum-podcast/2019/04/motivational-speaker-spencer-west-living-gay-man-disability|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-02-28|website=[[rabble.ca]]|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127085030/https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/hum-podcast/2019/04/motivational-speaker-spencer-west-living-gay-man-disability}}</ref><ref name=":2" />


== Selected works ==
== Selected works ==
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* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IMDb name}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Spencer}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:People from Rock Springs, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Westminster University (Utah) alumni]]
[[Category:Activists from Wyoming]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:American disability rights activists]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Wyoming]]
[[Category:American gay men]]
[[Category:American amputees]]
[[Category:American activists with disabilities]]
[[Category:LGBTQ writers with disabilities]]

Latest revision as of 06:35, 7 October 2024

Spencer West
West in 2011
Born (1981-01-07) January 7, 1981 (age 43)
Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.
Alma materWestminster College
Occupation(s)Motivational speaker, disability advocate
Websitewww.spencer2thewest.com Edit this at Wikidata

Spencer West (born January 7, 1981) is an American motivational speaker and disability advocate. West became an amputee after being born with sacral agenesis. He speaks about overcoming adversity and uses social media to advocate for the disability justice movement and the LGBTQ community.

Early life and education

[edit]

Spencer West was born on January 7, 1981, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Tonette and Kenny West.[1] He has a sister named Anne.[2]

West was born with a birth defect, sacral agenesis, causing his spine and legs to not work properly. When he was three years old, his legs were amputated to his knees. Prosthetics did not work, so doctors removed his legs when West was five years old. He learned to move around using his hands and a wheelchair.[1] He was bullied as a child for his disability.[1][3]

West graduated from Rock Springs High School, where he was a cheerleader. He earned a degree in communications from Westminster College.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

West moved to Phoenix, Arizona[2] and worked as an operations manager at a salon and spa.[4] He volunteered at a TV newsroom. In 2008, West traveled to Kenya with a friend to support the Free the Children's school building effort. The trip inspired West to share his personal experiences as an amputee. He joined ME to WE as an ambassador.[1] At the suggestion of Craig Kielburger, West climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his friends David Johnson and Alex Meers in June 2012.[2] The trio fundraised over $500,000 in support of Free the Children charity to provide clean water to 100,000 people in East Africa.[1][2] West is a motivational speaker and shares his personal and medical story. He speaks at schools and to corporations about overcoming adversity.[1] After meeting singer Demi Lovato at a charity event, in 2014, West was an opening speaker during the Demi World Tour.[5][6]

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted West's advocacy efforts; he had previously traveled 200 days a year as a speaker. West developed a following on TikTok where he posts about the disability justice movement and his personal experiences as a gay amputee.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

West resides in Toronto. He applied for Canadian citizenship after living there for 4 years.[1] West has tennis elbow due to using his arms to walk.[8] He is gay and advocates for disabled members in the LGBTQ community.[9][7]

Selected works

[edit]
  • West, Spencer (2011). Standing Tall: My Journey. Greystone Books. ISBN 978-1-55365-952-5.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Favaro, Avis (2012-12-07). "Finding inspiration and encouraging others despite huge disability". CTV News. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e Matray, Margaret (2012-05-27). "Spencer West: Redefining possible". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  3. ^ Martin, Michel (2014-07-22). "Despite Disability, One Mountain Climber Reflects On His Advantages". NPR. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  4. ^ Schifrin, Nick (2012-06-21). "Man's Extraordinary Kilimanjaro Climb". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  5. ^ "Inspirational speaker Spencer West opens for Demi Lovato". Calgary Herald. 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  6. ^ "Demi Lovato Talks Mental Health on World Tour, Takes 'GMA' Behind the Scenes". ABC News. 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  7. ^ a b Somos, Christy (2021-02-16). "'Provide some joy': Disability advocate takes off on TikTok". CTVNews. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  8. ^ Edmiston, Jake (2012-06-22). "Meet Spencer West, the legless Toronto man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro". National Post. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  9. ^ Cohen, Gilad; Ramkisson, Simona; Fragomeni, Brandon; Castellani, Alex; Ma, Ron (2019-04-08). "Motivational speaker Spencer West on living as a gay man with a disability". rabble.ca. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
[edit]
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