AFTER A SPINAL cord injury in 2021, Miranda Scott found strength and community through adaptive climbing — an experience that led her to found Rise Above Adaptive Climbing, a registered non-profit bringing community and adventure together by making the sport of rock climbing accessible to people with disabilities. Additionally, she is also a professionally trained goldsmith who has been making and selling jewelry for 15 years at markets and retailers, with many of her best-selling pieces being climbing themed.
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What is your biggest career achievement so far, or the thing that you’re most proud of?
When Rise Above began, the adaptive climbing community was incredibly small, and all but a few of us were brand new to the sport. It’s been so fulfilling to watch some of our occasional climbers who used to only come out to our monthly meetups evolve into regular gym goers. One person has even now begun competing at the national level!
“I’m a firm believer that skills should be passed down to keep them alive. What’s left is for me to do is exactly that — pass the knowledge on”
What about your biggest business obstacle (and how you tackled it)?
Initially, it was just getting the word out to the disabled community that we existed, and that despite how strength-based climbing looks to someone unfamiliar, that it’s actually way more accessible than most people think.
What is your biggest career ambition?
With Rise Above, I’m content to grow slowly and stay local, though I’d be honoured if someone in another city wanted to launch and manage their own branch of it. With regards to Good Bones, I’d love to have a small teaching studio for workshops someday. I used to have one in the city I lived in prior to my move to London seven years ago, and I really miss teaching!
On a desert island, what’s the one gratuitous item you’d have to have?
How gratuitous are we talking here? A Tamagotchi? A disco ball? The commemorative throw pillow of Princess Diana that used to live at my family cottage?
What’s one book you think everyone should read?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
What’s the best movie or show you’ve watched lately?
Shoresy.
What’s left for you to do, professionally or personally?
I’m a firm believer that skills should be passed down to keep them alive. Regardless if that’s teaching someone how to rig a rope system to help someone who uses a wheelchair climb a wall, or to make a ring with nothing but a hammer and crème brûlée torch. What’s left is for me to do is exactly that — pass the knowledge on.
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