Spencer West
Spencer West is an American motivational speaker and disability advocate.
Early life and education
Spencer West was born in 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 as five years old. He learned to move around using his hands and a wheelchair.[1] West was bullied as a child for his disability.[1][3] He was a cheerleader at Rock Springs High School. He attended Westminster College where he studied communications and earned a degree in computer science.[1][2]
Career
After college, West moved to Phoenix, Arizona[2] 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.[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]
Personal life
West resides in Toronto. He applied for Canadian citizenship after living there for 4 years.[1] West sufferers from tennis elbow due to using his arms to walk.[4] He is gay and advocates for disabled members in the LGBT community.[5]
Selected works
- West, Spencer (2011). Standing Tall: My Journey. Greystone Books. ISBN 978-1-55365-952-5.
References
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e Matray, Margaret (2012-05-27). "Spencer West: Redefining possible". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Martin, Michel (2014-07-22). "Despite Disability, One Mountain Climber Reflects On His Advantages". NPR. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Edmiston, Jake (2012-06-22). "Meet Spencer West, the legless Toronto man who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro". National Post. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ 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. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
