Hi, I’m Spencer West.

I am a globally renowned keynote speaker, author, content creator, and activist whose life embodies resilience, creativity, and the power of redefining what’s possible. I was born with a rare genetic condition that resulted in the loss of my legs at the age of five. Since then, I’ve spent my life challenging expectations – using adversity and lived experience as a catalyst for impact.

Download my media kit

New: Breaking Free Book | Official Bios | Approved Headshots | Brand Assets | Press | Contact

What's new?

I wrote a(nother) book!

Learn more About my book

Download the Cover Image

Official Write-up:

BREAKING FREE:
Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself

(Hay House; 5/12/26)

You might think that the hardest mountain Spencer West had to climb was Mount Kilimanjaro, but as he tells it, the real challenge was learning to overcome the everyday mountains we all face: anxiety, self-doubt, and the pressure to live up to the expectations of others.

Born without the use of his legs, Spencer discovered that the path he was told to follow only led to frustration and unfulfillment. With unrelenting candor and unexpected humor, Spencer shares his own experience of listening to his heart and creating a life defined by authenticity, not approval, to help you learn:

How to dig deep and uncover who you were always meant to be
Why chasing other people’s expectations is the new burnout
How to leverage ‘diversability’ in the workforce
What happens after you break free - and why it’s only the beginning

The road to self-discovery is certainly filled with vulnerability, but once you stop seeking permission to be yourself, you’ll find your most powerful and authentic self awaits you on the other side.

Approved Bios & Titles

Media Title (With Book):
Spencer West, Global Speaker, Disability Advocate, Author of Breaking Free

Media Title (Without Book):
Spencer West, Author, Content Creator, and Disability & 2SLGBTQ+ Advocate

Long bio

Spencer West is a globally renowned keynote speaker, author, content creator, and activist whose life embodies resilience, creativity, and the power of redefining what’s possible. Born with a rare genetic condition that resulted in the loss of his legs at the age of five, Spencer has spent his life challenging expectations - using adversity and lived experience as a catalyst for impact.

Today, Spencer is one of the most recognizable and influential disability advocates in the world. With a social community of over 4 million followers on TikTok, millions more across Instagram and YouTube, and a growing global audience, Spencer combines humor, vulnerability, and powerful insight to challenge assumptions about disability, belonging, and identity.

Spencer first captured international attention when he summited Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and wheelchair, a seven-day, 19,340-foot ascent completed to raise awareness and funds for clean water and global education. The climb became the basis for the feature documentary Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and spotlighted Spencer’s belief that we can help reduce barriers—physical or otherwise— through community collaboration, courageous vulnerability, and creativity.

Spencer’s bestselling memoir, Standing Tall: My Journey, chronicles his early life, the loss of his legs, and the experiences that shaped his resilience and purpose. His forthcoming book, Breaking Free, Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself (Hay House, May 2026) offers a powerful and more vulnerable look at Spencer’s journey, blending personal stories with practical guidance on shedding expectations, embracing identity, and living authentically.

Spencer has spoken to audiences worldwide, from schools and corporations to global leadership arenas, inspiring millions to challenge their assumptions and lead with empathy. He has shared the stage with prominent figures such as Mia Farrow, Jennifer Hudson, Martin Sheen, Martin Luther King III, and Natalie Portman, and was the opener for the North American portion of the Demi Lovato World Tour, bringing his message to audiences of tens of thousands.

Spencer has been featured on ABC News, CBS This Morning, CTV, and in The Globe and Mail, among others. Whether he’s climbing mountains, sharing his journey online, or helping audiences rethink their relationship to adversity, Spencer continues to spark meaningful global conversations about disability, inclusion, pride, and possibility. His work reminds us that challenges & expectations do not define us; how we respond and navigate them does. Spencer currently resides in Toronto, Canada.

Download the full bio

Short Bio (Event Listings & Captions)

40-50 words | Best for event listings & captions

Medium Bio (Articles & Podcasts)

Spencer West is an internationally recognized keynote speaker, content creator, author, and disability advocate known for redefining what’s possible. Born with a rare genetic condition that resulted in the loss of his legs at age five, Spencer has inspired millions through his storytelling, humor, and powerful message of resilience. He first gained global attention after summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on his hands and in his wheelchair, a journey featured in the documentary Redefine Possible, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Spencer is the author of the bestselling memoir Standing Tall, and his forthcoming book, Breaking Free: Stop Following Expectations and Start Following Yourself, offers a deeper and more vulnerable look at how we can shed limitations, embrace identity, and live authentically. With more than 4 million TikTok followers and a strong presence across Instagram and YouTube, Spencer uses his platform to challenge assumptions about disability and belonging. His story has been featured by ABC News, CBS This Morning, CTV, and in The Globe and Mail, among others. Based in Toronto, Spencer continues to champion inclusion, disability representation, and 2SLGBTQ+ visibility through his speaking, digital content, and advocacy.