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No Barriers inspires what is possible both in the commercial field of adaptive devices and technologies as well as what is possible in our personal lives.
Nicole Deters Spader
No Barriers USA Executive Director

Testimonials from No Barriers 2009 At Shake-A-Leg Miami

WHAT FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING…

I'm still on Cloud 11 (I know there are only 9) but I'm flying so high after attending the 2009 Festival!  I want to commend all those involved in setting up this amazing event. 

I became a paraplegic November 2007 and  thought I had good spirit and a positive attitude, but all the people I met just instilled in me more that we are alive and enjoying so much - I made many friends and look forward to the next festival.

My sincere gratitude to the many staff members at No Barriers USA and Shake-A-Leg for hosting the Festival, as well as the many wonderful volunteers who made it so easy for all of us to get around and enjoy ourselves.  This was my first, but not my last!  You made my dream come true of getting back on a horse after my accident.  The sailing, swimming with the dolphins and many other highlights showed me life exists after the accident.  The symposiums were so informative too.  I can't say enough and after a week am still bubbling over with joy!!
Angie
Englewood, Florida

Deep sea fishing was pretty amazing! I did things I'm not sure others would have made accessible for me. I am so excited to know I can handcycle. First time doing it and loved it. Thank you!
Chanda
Denver, Colorado

No Barriers is AWESOME! It was the first time my son was able to ride a bike since his illness. Someone told him he probably couldn't ride the bike. My son said yes I can and off he went.
Cathy
Lusby, Maryland

I am an occupational therapist at the Miami VA healthcare center and seeing the level of participation of several of our patients was amazing. I was with a group of Vietnam era amputees and the optimism and sense of value that this event brought them was evident  not only in what they told me, but also in their level of participation in the many events.
Jo Ann Picariello
Miami, Florida

I can't begin to tell you how much fun we had and what a great experience it was for my son and our family. We will be there next year, without a doubt! As a mother of a special needs child, I can't thank you enough for all the hard work you did and do for families like ours. Every day is a challenge and to know that there are people out there that not only accept our circumstances, but go above and beyond to go the extra mile, is a true blessing. I personally want to say Thank you!
Krista, Mike and JoJo
Stuart, Florida

Aloha! I had a tremendous time. The human spirit was just fantastic!  Truly remarkable people you have. I was inspired and will continue to march forward.  I hope to partake in future events!  All the best! Dionisios
Miliani, Hawaii

My favorite clinic was definitely the kayaking. I was always very curious about this sport but feared of the danger. However, after trying it solo, I just fell in love with it. I had to give it to those patient instructor and volunteers. Without their help and knowledge, I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much. This was my first No Barriers Festival, so I didn't know what to expect. However, I was truly touched by loving and giving people were and was amazed by massive scale of the festival. I felt very grateful for those people who were involved in order to make this happen and run smoothly.
Ryan
Los Angeles, California

Wonderful Festival and can’t wait for the next one! It was so nice to meet so many active adults with and without disabilities in a beautiful setting. This event was really helpful to my daughter to help her see a positive lifestyle while using her wheelchair.
Rachelle
Weston, Florida

Wow – the people and what they can do! The Festival really opened my eyes to the amazing things people can do and want to do to live their lives. The Shake-A-Leg people were also phenomenal.
Bill
Grand Rapids, Michigan

WHAT FESTIVAL PRESENTERS ARE SAYING…

Thanks for organizing such a great event! It was very moving, inspirational and really brought up many considerations. I look forward to the next one.
Dr. Stephen J. McCormack
Chief Executive Officer
IMI Medical Devices

I was delighted to have had the opportunity to give my talk on Overcoming the Psychological and Social Barriers of Disability. What a wonderful festival!  You guys rock. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am gratified to have had the opportunity to deliver my message.
Bruce J. Winick
Professor of Law
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Miami

Thank you for your diligent organization. I think that it is the combination of technology and experiential activities that makes the festival unique. Once again I was inspired and stimulated by the event you guys put together.  Way to go!
Yitzhak Zilberman
Bioness Corporation

My favorite part of the festival was meeting people and seeing the flood of inspiration going on between others.  This event is terrific to bring these people together.  The few days I spent, will forever be with me and I believe it will be for others as well.  Great job!
Kelly Perkins
Irvine, California

WHAT FESTIVAL SPONSORS ARE SAYING…

It was my pleasure to work on this Festival. It was such a rewarding and learning experience. I walked away knowing so much more than I did when I started working on this event. Congratulations on this successful event and much success with all your future endeavors.
Shirley Gravelle
Show Management

I really came back from the Festival motivated. It made me want to do more in life. One speaker there was paralyzed from a surfing accident. He still surfs now - just lying down."
Kevin Aronoff
American Airlines

Congratulations on a great festival!  I thought the symposium speakers were excellent – there is some amazing technology out there.
Rich Hogle
WiCab, Inc.

I just wanted to commend you on a job well done. We were very pleased with the turnout and impressed with the press involvement.
Arica Finnieston
Arthur Finnieston Prosthetics + Orthotics

As I watched dancers in the opening ceremony, I thought about how my wheelchair can do more than just carry me around. And as I led a breakout session during our Roundtable, I thought again about teaching. Imagine what those who didn't know what was going to be happening took away...
There are some events that impact a life and then there are those that impact lifestyle. You can make things happen by focusing beyond the barriers and changing your lifestyle as you continue the journey...
Mike Savicki
No Barriers Board of Directors

No Barriers was amazing!  The festival and the wonderful people who attended No Barriers shattered all of my expectations!  I’m sure my life has forever been changed because of your festival and the wonderful people who I met there. 
Melanie L. McLean       
LEKI Customer Service

Just like past festivals used the mountains as a way to showcase cutting-edge ideas and technologies in the adaptive world, this year used the water. It was thrilling to experience injured veterans learning to scuba dive, paraplegics learning techniques for swimming in open water, and blind people using a talking GPS to navigate a sailboat. As always, the technologies were amazing, but I was most struck by the hundreds of people facing significant challenges, all gathered with  the purpose of living more actively, squeezing more potential from their lives, and taking control of their own destinies. I'm proud to be a part of such a dynamic community.
Erik Weihenmayer
No Barriers USA Board of Directors

No Barriers is a life-affirming experience that changes so many people's lives as all they see how assistive technologies are changing the ways that disabled people live, work and play.  Whether you were a participant, family, friend, volunteer, scientist or participating sponsor you left inspired and energized to do more for yourself and others.
Bill Barkeley
No Barriers USA Board of Directors

WHAT FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS ARE SAYING…

There are no words to express how thrilled I was to be a part of Festival 2009. It was an extraordinary event and a truly inspirational experience for me. I am renewed in my inspiration to live my life to the fullest and with unbridled passion.  All of you -- and all of the participants that I met -- have enriched my life in such a deep and meaningful way and I am so grateful!
Christine Puccini
Mill Valley, California

This was a great event. My son Dylan, took a great big step towards maturity and appreciation of his own good health. I only wish I'd taken a few more photos of the participating Heroes. My favorite part was seeing the smile on the face of the blind girl, when she received such a round of applause for reaching the top of the climbing wall.
Richard Nathanson 
Mason Yachts International
Playa Del Ray, California

Being a volunteer was amazing. I worked as an on-the-water volunteer and found it to be a very rewarding experience, what I saw was great!
Jane-Ann Pincus
Miami, Florida

Almost every blind person I meet over the age of 40 is in poor physical condition due to inactivity.  We really need to wake these folks up to the possibilities that exist for good safe healthy fun. I am glad the festival is doing just that! I think the event is bang-on and look forward to the next.
Lawrence Euteneier
BlindFishing.com
Ottawa, Ontario

The No Barriers Festival was about bringing people together and being inspired.  May everyone who has been touched by the event be inspired to pursue their dreams and know Shake-A-Leg Miami is here to assist them in living out those dreams.
Harry Horgan, Executive Director
Shake-A-Leg Miami

I remember on Saturday at one point heading out to the island, dodging dinghies and kayaks buzzing around in the harbor, and I came up on the outrigger canoe who was charging at about 6-7 knots and everyone was smiling ear to ear!  In the basin, the Freedoms and Sonars were headed out for a sail and off to the south the paddleboarders were just clearing the sand spit that connects the two islands.  As I approached the swimming hole, a woman with no arms or legs was swimming and she was being coached by a man who spends most of his day in a wheelchair—and I thought LIFE IS NOT ONLY GOOD…..IT’S GREAT!!!!  This is what it is all about right?  EXACTLY!

We all were part of something that showed that the water is an amazing place that really does BREAK THE BARRIERS!!!! 
Meredith Bass
Shake-A-Leg Miami Staff