Growing up with a profound binaural hearing loss, I have a lot of experience with special needs programs, disabilities, and general struggles with being different. Through years of hard work, I overcame many obstacles and eventually became a radio DJ for more than 10 years — possibly the only deaf radio personality in America. I still work in media, now as a reporter and SEO Lead for syracuse.com, but I also speak to schools and special needs groups about my own experiences and attempt to inspire them to know they can do anything they want to do, regardless of disability or different ability.

I’ve been a keynoter at Disability Mentoring Day in Central New York, a frequent guest speaker at Syracuse city schools and a featured speaker at TEDxBuffalo. I was also named a HearStrong Champion by the HearStrong Foundation.

If you’re interested in booking me for a speaking engagement, please email me:
deafgeoff.herbert@gmail.com

Here’s an example of one of my motivational speeches, filmed at Fayetteville-Manlius High School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSVLjWbVIdk