No Barriers Warriors have great camaraderie.

WE WERE delighted to spend some time with Christina Dahman, communications manager of No Barriers, who talked us through the organisation’s inspirational work with people from all walks of life.

No Barriers believes that each person is born with a thirst for adventure and by nurturing this thirst and helping it to grow miracles can be achieved and people’s lives turned around for the better.

From the young and old to those with disabilities and war veterans No Barriers reaches out to all parts of society. There’s bound to be a programme you could get involved with support and if you haven’t heard of the organisation’s annual signature event, the No Barriers Summit, find out more below or visit their website at www.nobarrierssummit.org.

When was No Barriers founded and who were the people behind the idea?

No Barriers USA was co-founded in 2005 by Jim Goldsmith, blind-adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer, Bioengineer and American Rock Climber, Hugh Herr and Mark Wellman, most known for the first ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park by a paraplegic.

Wounded veterans reaching new heights.

What were the original aims of No Barriers and how has the organisation changed and moved forward since its conception?

No Barriers USA was and remains an organisation founded on the belief that each person, regardless of age, state of mind, physical condition, has a thirst for adventure and a hope for the future that is worthy of igniting. The motto being, “What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.” Through transformative experiences, No Barriers mindset tools and inspiration, No Barriers USA helps people embark on a quest to contribute their absolute best to the world. In the process, it fosters a community of curious, courageous and collaborative explorers who are determined to live a No Barriers Life.

Over the next ten years, No Barriers kept it’s mission the same – to unleash the potential of the human spirit through transformative experiences  – but exponentially grew the number of lives they could impact by reaching new audiences. To start, No Barriers was a community of individuals with disabilities, but in 2010 the community expanded to include veterans with disabilities (No Barriers Warriors) and in 2011 the community grew further to reach middle and high school youth with or without disabilities and those living in low-income areas (No Barriers Youth). Along the way, the core motto has stayed the same across all of our programs “What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way”.

Tell us more about the four-day No Barriers Summit and what those going to the event can expect? How can our readers get involved and are they able to attend themselves?

The No Barriers Summit is our annual signature event. Over the course of four days, thousands of people of all abilities from across the United States and around the world will embark on exhilarating adventures. Participants will choose from 50 plus adaptive activities in Sports, Adventure, Arts and Education, be motivated by phenomenal speakers and celebrities and inspired by some of the most creative and innovative technologies, products and services helping to transform lives.

Throughout the event, participants and their families will break through barriers and join our amazing community. Regardless of their ability, participants will leave forever changed.

The No Barriers Summit is much more than an event with adaptive activities for all abilities. Since it’s inception in 2005, each event has also been designed to teach the destination/location about accessibility. By hosting an event in mountain communities, we are able to encourage the town / area to increase their accessibility to further meet the needs of those with disabilities.

Tapping into inner strength.

 
Your readers are invited to join us in Copper Mountain, Colorado, June 23- 26 for an experience unlike any other they’ve ever had. Registration opens on January 28, 2016 at www.nobarrierssummit.org. If they cannot attend personally, they can recommend their friends or family who would be interested. In addition to attending, they can volunteer time, services or expertise. Also, companies/organizations can sponsor the event and help us impact more lives.

Tell us about your work with veterans and how important this area of the organisation is to you?

No Barriers Warriors is the only program that improves the lives of veterans with disabilities through curriculum-based experiences in challenging environments.

Wounded Veterans ice climbing.

According to the 2014 Census, More than 3.8 million of the 19.3 million veterans in the US are coping with a service connected disability. Due to the improvements in battlefield medical treatment, they return alive, yet not whole. Service members are trained to depend on each other. Upon separation from the military, many veterans feel disconnected and alone, experiencing a significant and immediate loss in the lack of camaraderie and interdependence as they return to
the civilian world and their communities.

No Barriers Warriors programmes are the solution to this crisis. Our programmes permanently impact lives by helping members of all military branches with disabilities tackle personal challenges.

Mountains serve as both metaphor and training ground for stretching goals, building strong rope  teams, innovating through adversity and stepping up to lead and serve others. Through the No  Barriers Warriors experience, we provide veterans with camaraderie and support systems they can depend on.

How does No Barriers specifically aim to help and educate young people and what are some of the programmes available?

No Barriers Youth programmes emphasise positive youth development, enabling youth to see  what’s possible in their lives and in the world. Whether through school, camp, or expedition programmes, participants are put on a path to fulfil their potential, both personally and as agents of  positive change in the world.

Our youth programmes serve students of differing abilities from all socio-economic backgrounds,  along with the educators and families who support their positive development.

Painting without sight.

Our programmes put students in some of the world’s most inspiring classrooms, from the Peruvian
Amazon, to the rainforest of Costa Rica, to China to the depths of the Grand Canyon. Through our programmes, youth will:
• develop a sense of purpose and competence
• grow through challenges
• connect with others and the earth
• give back as leaders who serve

The result is youth who are equipped with tools to face personal and global challenges, and who transition into adulthood inspired to fulfil their potential. A list of our 2016 Youth programs can be found here.

In terms of careers what does No Barriers have to offer and what is some of the on-going work the organisation does with those with disabilities?

If you look at the No Barriers office staff, the organisation looks relatively small, but when you add in the field and additional support staff the opportunities for others to join our work continue to grow. The No Barriers Field Staff are responsible for putting the organisation’s mission into motion, showing participants first hand that what’s within them is stronger than what’s in their way. They are engrossed in each of the programs, working directly with the unique populations. In addition to Field Staff, volunteers are able to provide time,expertise, or resources to help further the No Barriers mission and reach.

Blind and visually impaired youth programme at the Grand Canyon.

One of the most important aspects of the No Barriers Summit is to teach the destination/location about accessibility. Each event is an opportunity for our community to encourage the town/area to increase their accessibility to further meet the needs of those with disabilities.

What exciting new projects and initiatives are in the pipeline for the year ahead and beyond?

We’ve got a lot of exciting things to come this year! First of all, we’re excited to move, what was once a bi-annual Summit, to an annual Summit. We’ve also been in discussions about taking the Summit international in the coming years. Our very first Summit took place in Italy and we are excited at the possibility of having a future Summit in another international location.

Youth kayaking at the Summit

Also, our co-founder, Erik Weihenmayer is releasing a book this year called The No Barriers Life. In this book, Erik will explain the seven key elements we know everyone experiences when they live a No Barriers Life.

 
Finally, as you can see, our programmes have some unique target audiences, youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. This year, we understand that everyone in the world has barriers and even if they don’t fit into one of these target audiences we want to give them a way to live a No Barriers Life. For this we’ve started what we call the No Barriers Pledge. When people take the Pledge, they promise to harness adversity, break through their personal barriers and create a life of purpose and impact. Regardless of ability, the Pledge is the way for anyone to life a No Barriers Life.