How Two Men With Disabilities Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Andy Gardner and Sam Fischgrund had to tackle several obstacles.

Gardner, 32, and Fischgrund, 29, who are both on the autism spectrum, went for long walks around West Rock Ridge State Park to build their endurance. They walked on an incline on a treadmill to prepare for the miles of ascent in increasingly higher altitudes.

What the two men — clients of Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, which works with adults with developmental and social disabilities — did not heavily consider was whether their disabilities would hold them back.

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“It’s good that other people get to do it. People with disabilities can do it,” said Gardner.

Their trip was arranged through the nonprofit Accessibility Accelerator, which brought a cohort of 50 people with differing abilities — including some with visual and hearing disabilities and at least one person who climbed the famed Tanzanian mountain with a leg prosthetic.

Jamie Lassner, executive director of Accessibility Accelerator, said in an emailed comment that many people, especially those with disabilities, “are told what they cannot do, instead of being encouraged to discover what they can.”

He said such activities as trips to Tanzania to hike Mount Kilimanjaro are meant to “flip that narrative.”

“I wanted to start a movement around bucket list adventures that don’t just fulfill personal dreams, but also raise the bar for what’s possible,” Lassner said.

Fischgrund said one of the biggest surprises was the impact of the higher altitude. The hikers did yoga at Chapel Haven and learned breathing techniques before leaving.

“I had no idea what to expect,” he said.

Fischgrund ultimately opted to turn around after three days of hiking due to the effects of the altitude. But Gardner continued on to the first summit, a hike he said took about seven days to climb and then descend.

“Going down was more of a challenge because it was slippery,” he said. “The weather was no rain at all, it just got a little bit cold at the end, but it didn’t feel as cold when the sun came up because the wind died down.”

Lassner said Gardner and Fischgrund were pivotal to the hiking group’s spirit because of their positive energy.

“To me, Sam and Andy represent the very essence of why we climb. They remind us that leadership doesn’t always come from the loudest voice, but from the truest spirit,” he said.

Gardner gave credit to Chapel Haven trainer Kim Stack for preparing him for three days of climbing, traversing about 15 miles per day. Both Gardner and Fischgrund said they worked to stay focused on their goal during their trip up Mount Kilimanjaro as they continued to put one foot in front of the other.

Prior to climbing the mountain, the group also participated in a safari. Gardner said it was his first time seeing animals in the wild, instead of in a zoo.

“I wasn’t scared. The animals were far away,” Fischgrund said.

Fischgrund was joined on his hike by his sister. Gardner said he hopes to return and do it again with his father.

© 2025 New Haven Register
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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