Disability/Perseverance Speakers

Jake Olson was the first completely blind football player to ever play in a Division I college football game. His story has been documented by ever major media outlet and he has been motivationally speaking since the age of 12.

Eric is a former American football player for Rutgers who became paralyzed in-game while making a tackle. After recovering, he now focuses on sports broadcasting, speaking and writing as a means for sharing his motivational story.

Chris Nikic is a 21-year old with Down Syndrome with all the associated disabilities, but he chooses to focus on his God given abilities.  In 2020, he became the first person with Down Syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon.

Scout Bassett is an American Paralympian in Track & Field. Bassett lost her leg as a newborn baby, however, she is now one of the most prominent Paralympic athletes in the world.

Shane and Hannah Burcaw are relationship vloggers on a mission to change the way society understands disability. In their YouTube channel, Squirmy and Grubs, the couple shares a authentic examination of what it’s like to be interabled partners.

The story of Kyle & Brent Pease will inspire you to find your finish, to define for us all what is truly possible. Together, they have become one of the most recognizable endurance athletes, competing in some of the world’s toughest challenges.

After breaking his neck in the college rugby national championship match, Robert was told he would never walk or move his hands again. Defying the odds, he graduated from UC Berkeley, can walk 400 yards, and is now an inspirational speaker.

Amy Purdy is a Paralympic Bronze Medalist Snowboarder. After being diagnosed with Meningococcal Meningitis, Amy challenged herself to move on with her life and attain goals that even those who have both legs struggle to achieve.

Jen was born without legs, but did not let that stop her from becoming a world-renowned aerialist, speaker, and author. She has performed with Britney Spears and headlined at many prestigious venues throughout the world.

Coach Rob Mendez is the Junior Varsity Coach at Prospect High School in Saratoga, Califronia. In 2019, Mendez was awarded with the Jimmy V award for Perserverance at the ESPYS.

Retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a recalibrated warrior, motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees.

Blake Leeper is an eight-time Paralympic Track and Field international medalist, world record holder, and three-time American record holder. Over 400 meters, he’s thefastest adaptive runner in Team USA History and the onlyone to ever do it in under 45 seconds. From Kingsport, Tennessee, Blake was born without legs from a congenital birth defect and did not start racing until he was twenty years old. It was at the first-ever race that he caught the attention of the Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Track and Field, who convinced his parents to let their son move into the Olympic Training Center and go all-in on running. He putaside pursuits of a medical career and left the Universityof Tennessee to embark on a journey that no one couldhave ever envisioned for a young man born without legs. He began to run and run fast, all over the world. Leeper’s medal collection now includes one gold, six silver, and one bronze. Over his career, he hopes to win more medals than any Paralympic athlete in track and field history and, perhaps more importantly, to become the first adaptive American track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games. A dynamic, fire and brimstone-like TEDx talk in The Netherlands put Leeper on the inspirational speaker map, where his signature big energy and effusive passion were on full display. Now a seasoned veteran of the speaking stage, Leeper regularly shares his inspiring story with audiences across the country and around the world. Often, when faced with adversity, we ask, “Why? Blake flips the script and challenges his audiences to disempower adversity and overcome it by asking, “Why not me?” An aspiring actor who is based in LA, Blake regularly participates in commercial and small TV/movie roles. He intends to pursue acting after his athletic career about giving back, particularly to those who face similar challenges to his own; Blake is an active supporter of the Wiggle Your Toes Foundation and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Erik is the first blind person ever to climb Mount Everest and one of few to ever climb the Seven Summits. He is also co-founder of No Barriers, an organization that prides itself on helping people with challenges face barriers head on.

David, is a speaker and the author of the award winning book “Getting Undressed – From Paralysis to Purpose”. He travels the United States speaking at conferences, companies, churches and schools, spreading his message of hope and inspiration.

Ashlee is an inspirational speaker, writer and motivator who has persevered through pain and paralysis after a fall in 1999 introduced a wheelchair to her life. She was crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA in 2013 and is passionate about outdoor recreation.