Tom Sullivan

One of Sullivan's first rules is that "Any negative can be turned into positive." Born prematurely in 1947, Tom was given too much oxygen while in an incubator. Though it saved his life, it cost him his eyesight. The "inconvenience" of being blind has never kept Tom Sullivan from competing in a world where he realized that to be equal, for him, meant that he must be better. Even as he may have had to change the rules slightly, he has proven that one need not be limited by a handicap whether it is playing backyard baseball as a youngster, or in any activity he's pursued. Tom is an excellent golfer: "I've never seen a water hazard. I always have an open shot to the green." He's an avid snow skier and a marathon runner, and has recently been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Having spent the early part of his career pursuing his ambition as a singer and composer, Tom started out playing the piano in summer resorts in New England. He eventually gained national prominence with appearances on The Tonight Show, a major recording contract, and a steady stream of gigs in Las Vegas and resorts around the country. One very memorable highlight of his musical career was when he sang a moving rendition of The Star Spangled Banner at the 1976 Super Bowl Game Bicentennial Celebration. Although music was his primary focus, Tom's limitless energy and ambition would combine to lead him into a series of successes in the entertainment industry.

In his latest title Adventures in Darkness, Tom takes readers through his monumental eleventh summer. Blind since birth, Tom lived in a challenging world of isolation and special treatment. But he was driven to break out and live as sighted people do. This book is a hair-raising, heart-warming experience that culminates in Tom's determination to realize his dreams of a "normal" life.

As a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, Tom has become a regular morning fixture in millions of American homes. His touching and insightful reports give many that "you can do it" bit of inspiration to start their day. Whether it was snow skiing with his son in Colorado, or interviewing the legendary Jack Nicklaus over a few holes of golf, his reporting is memorable. He is now writing and producing for television and film.

It is only fitting that with his wealth of experience and commitment he would become one of the most sought after motivational speakers on the circuit. Tom has communicated his tailored message of hope and possibility to over 1,000 corporations and universities. What he gives of himself is returned in abundance by his audiences with responses like, "Your wit and wisdom and, most of all, your high spiritual consciousness reached out and touched all of us in a most beautiful and meaningful way."

Visit Tom Sullivan's website: http://www.sullivanspeaks.com/