Spencer West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spencer West
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West in 2011
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| Born | January 7, 1981 Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Westminster College |
| Occupation | Motivational speaker, disability advocate |
Spencer West (born January 7, 1981) is an American motivational speaker and disability advocate. He was born with a condition that affected his legs. Spencer learned to move around using his hands and a wheelchair. He inspires many people by sharing his story of overcoming challenges. He also uses social media to speak up for people with disabilities and the LGBTQ community.
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Early Life and School
Spencer West was born on January 7, 1981. His parents are Tonette and Kenny West. He also has a sister named Anne. They lived in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Spencer was born with a birth defect called sacral agenesis. This condition meant his spine and legs did not work correctly. When he was three years old, doctors removed his legs up to his knees. Later, when he was five, his legs were fully removed because prosthetics (artificial legs) did not work for him. Spencer learned to get around using his hands and a wheelchair. Sometimes, other kids were not kind to him because of his disability.
Spencer went to Rock Springs High School. He was even a cheerleader there! After high school, he studied communications at Westminster College.
Spencer's Career and Adventures
After college, Spencer moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He worked as a manager at a salon and spa. He also volunteered at a TV news station.
In 2008, Spencer went to Kenya with a friend. They helped with a project by Free the Children to build schools. This trip made Spencer want to share his own story. He joined an organization called ME to WE as an ambassador.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
A friend named Craig Kielburger suggested a big challenge: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This is a very tall mountain in Africa. In June 2012, Spencer climbed it with his friends David Johnson and Alex Meers. They raised over $500,000 for the Free the Children charity. This money helped bring clean water to 100,000 people in East Africa.
Speaking to Inspire
Spencer is now a well-known motivational speaker. He shares his personal journey and medical story. He visits schools and companies to talk about how to overcome difficulties. In 2014, he even opened for singer Demi Lovato during her Demi World Tour.
When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, Spencer could not travel as much. He used to travel about 200 days a year for his speaking events. So, he started using TikTok. On TikTok, he shares videos about disability rights and his own experiences. He also talks about being a gay man with a disability.
Personal Life
Spencer West lives in Toronto, Canada. He has lived there for four years and has applied to become a Canadian citizen. Because he uses his arms to move around, he sometimes gets tennis elbow. Spencer is gay and works to support people with disabilities in the LGBTQ community.
Selected works
