Climbers Have Visited St. Mary's School for the Deaf
Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger shared their climbing experiences with Buffalo students.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Special Needs
Mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger visited St. Mary's School for the Deaf on September 23, 2026. The pair shared stories with students as part of their ongoing mission to become the first deaf couple to reach all seven summits.
Why it matters
Lehmann and Unger hope to inspire students by sharing their journey of competing in a sport where no deaf person has yet completed all seven summits.
Lehmann and Unger have successfully completed 6 of the world's 7 summits. They are currently preparing to undertake their next major challenge in Antarctica.
The players
Scott Lehmann
He is an elite mountaineer striving to become part of the first deaf couple to complete the seven summits challenge.
Shayna Unger
She is a professional climber currently working to finish the final summit in a seven-mountain series.
St. Mary's School for the Deaf
Located in Buffalo, this institution provides specialized education and support for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Niagara Climbing Center
This facility offers professional climbing instruction and equipment for various skill levels in the Buffalo area.
Buffalo RiverWorks
This multi-use venue in Buffalo serves as a host site for community events and large-scale public presentations.
The details
During their visit to the Buffalo school, students participated in a climbing experience provided by the Niagara Climbing Center. The athletes also held a classroom session to detail the challenges of their mountaineering career.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: Lehmann and Unger visited St. Mary's School for the Deaf.
September 24, 2026: The duo will speak at an event at Buffalo RiverWorks.
December 2026: The climbers are scheduled to travel to Antarctica.
Culture Shift
The Seven Summits challenge remains one of mountaineering's most difficult endurance tests. This visit highlights a broader trend of deaf athletes pushing past historical participation barriers in extreme sports.
Residents can attend the sold-out speaking event held at Buffalo RiverWorks on September 24. This appearance provides local students and community members a direct opportunity to hear from the climbers before their departure for Antarctica.
The takeaway
Goal-setting remains a universal tool for overcoming obstacles regardless of an individual's physical challenges. Interested followers can monitor the progress of this historic climbing attempt as the team prepares for their upcoming winter expedition.
Further reading
Learn more about local programs and outreach at Special Needs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wivb4.
