About Steve Baskis
How to pronounce Steve‘s last name: “Bass”, like the fish and “kiss”, like you would kiss somebody.
Bass + Kiss = Baskis.
Specialist Steven C. Baskis successfully completed Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2007. He deployed with the distinguished 4th Infantry Division of the US Army, a unit that played a significant role in World War II by crossing the Normandy Beaches. In 2008, while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, Specialist Baskis sustained severe wounds from an improvised explosive device. On May 13th, 2008, he lost his sight and suffered multiple shrapnel injuries to his head, neck, arms, and legs. Steve also endured significant blood loss, hearing loss, loss of smell, and nerve damage to his left arm. As a result of his courageous and selfless service, Steve was promptly awarded the Purple Heart Medal by the US President.
Today, over 15 years since his initial injuries, Steve has established himself as an author, presenter, athlete, and motivator. In 2013, he received the prestigious Louis Braille Award for his exceptional contributions to the blind and visually impaired community. Furthermore, Steve achieved medals at the National Level of both the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
However, his greatest source of pride lies in the creation of his own nonprofit organization, Blind Endeavors. This organization is dedicated to challenging and inspiring individuals of all abilities to explore new ways of living through movement. Its objectives include promoting awareness and education in schools and institutions across the nation, conducting research and development related to the adaptive community, and establishing unique and unconventional programs and teams to pursue bold endeavors worldwide.
Steve’s numerous accomplishments are difficult to summarize fully. From appearing on The Today Show to being featured in numerous documentaries and even hiking Kilimanjaro, he undeniably serves as a vocal and visible advocate for the blind. Continuously pushing the limits for himself and the adaptive world, Steve exemplifies the quintessential human spirit of perseverance and resilience. Through his own stories of conquering four of the tallest peaks in the world, cycling across the nation, kayaking the Colorado River, and more, Steve guarantees to enlighten and inspire. He encourages us not to “dis his ability” and asserts, “While I may have lost my physical ability to see, I have gained a new vision and perspective to guide me through life’s incredible challenges.”
