Adaptive Sports Champion & Technology Innovator; World Record Blind Skier; Founder of Sendero Group; CEO at Lighthouse for the Blind Inc.

Davis, CA, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Mike May Biography

Mike May is an American athlete, entrepreneur, and accessibility advocate known for his contributions to adaptive sports and assistive technology. Blinded by a chemical explosion at age 3, May became a competitive skier and business executive, later regaining partial vision through cornea transplants and a stem cell procedure. May has emphasized a lifelong philosophy that "there is always a way."

May began his athletic career in a blind skiing program in Kirkwood, California, and went on to win three gold medals at the World Games in Switzerland. He holds the world record for downhill skiing by a person who is completely blind, reaching speeds of 65 mph, and competed in the alpine skiing event at the Winter Paralympics, earning three bronze medals in the downhill, giant slalom, and combination events. May's achievements in adaptive sports have been featured in a Warren Miller ski movie and on ABC's "Wide World of Sports." He has received a commendation from President Ronald Reagan and was appointed to the White House Paralympics delegation by President Barack Obama.

In addition to his athletic accomplishments, May has built a career in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. He has worked as an analyst for the CIA, raised nearly $7 million for a technology startup that produced the world's first laser turntable, and developed adaptive devices for people who are blind. As president and CEO of Lighthouse for the Blind Inc. in Seattle, May led an organization with annual revenues exceeding $80 million. He also founded Sendero Group, which employs individuals who are blind or visually impaired and developed the first accessible GPS solution for blind users. Sendero Group's GPS technology was recognized as an "Innovation Honoree" at the Consumer Electronics Show. May has consulted with companies such as Uber on app accessibility and serves as a navigation technology advisor at APH. He has been inducted into the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame alongside leaders from Apple and Samsung.

May's experiences with vision restoration were the subject of a BBC documentary, "The Man Who Learnt To See," which won the Royal Television Society's award for best single programme. His story is also chronicled in Robert Kurson's book, "Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure and the Man Who Dared to See." May's honors include the Kay Gallagher Mentoring Award from the American Foundation for the Blind, the Da Vinci Award for Accessibility and Universal Design, the American Foundation for the Blind Access Award, the Louis Braille Individual Award, and an honorary doctorate in humane letters.

May has been featured in international media, including NBC Dateline, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Washington Post, and People Magazine. As a public speaker, May addresses topics such as adaptive living, accessibility, and overcoming challenges, drawing from his experiences in competitive skiing, technology innovation, and global travel. His presentations focus on how ingenuity, humor, and determination can help individuals and organizations navigate obstacles in the fields of accessibility, adaptive sports, and assistive technology.

BOOK Mike May

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/23/2026.

Mike May Videos

The evolution of (assistive) technology - Keynote by Mike May

The evolution of (assistive) technology - Keynote by Mike May

Watch the Keynote by Mike May held at Inclusive Innovations 2023. An event about the future of accessible work, co-hosted with Lighthouse for the...

  • How do I book Mike May to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Mike May

    Speaking fees for Mike May, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mike May are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mike May, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mike May speak about?

    Mike May is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Business, Disability, Entrepreneurship, Inspirational, Motivational, Olympic Athlete, Paralympics, Storytelling
  • Where does Mike May travel from?

    Mike May generally travels from Davis, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Mike May is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mike May for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Mike May generally travels from Davis, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Melissa Stockwell, Alycia Anderson, Tiffany Yu, Jessica Long and Jake Olson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mike May for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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