Cody

Travel information

I am currently

Description

QUICK SUMMARY

Purpose-driven, independent, and community-minded Canadian Workawayer and adaptive adventurer with experience in outdoor fieldwork, festival volunteering, and a wide range of hands-on work environments. I am a self-advocating advocate living with hearing and visual impairment who values adaptability, honest communication, nature, sustainability, meaningful contribution, and inclusive community living.


WHAT HOSTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH ME

I’m independent, reliable, and proactive about communicating what works best for me. I don’t expect special treatment — just clear communication, patience, and mutual respect, which I gladly offer in return. Because of my hearing and visual impairment, I work best with straightforward guidance and a reasonable pace. I may take a little longer to navigate unfamiliar or busy spaces, especially in low light, but I adapt well, prioritize safety, and ask questions when needed. Simple things — such as verbal explanations, knowing when items have been moved, or brief check-ins when learning a new task — make a big difference. I’m always happy to explain what helps and value openness and teamwork.

I’m comfortable asking for help when something requires an extra set of eyes, and I’m equally comfortable working independently once I understand the task. I take pride in doing quality work, being dependable, and contributing positively to shared projects and daily life. Most importantly, I bring a positive attitude, gratitude, and a genuine love for contributing, learning, and being part of a shared experience.


WHAT I’M NOT SUITED FOR

I’m not well suited for environments that are constantly rushed, poorly communicated, or unsafe — especially where expectations change without explanation. I also don’t thrive in situations where patience, respect, or inclusion are not valued. If a host is uncomfortable with clear communication or occasional accessibility awareness, we may not be the best fit — and that’s completely okay. I value honest alignment and positive, respectful working relationships.


THE FULL STORY

Hello Workaway family,
My name is Cody, and I am an easygoing and independent 34-year-old Canadian who is a self-advocating advocate for people navigating the world with hearing and visual impairment. I was born with a degenerative condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (Usher Syndrome Type 2), which affects both my hearing and vision. I’ve worn hearing aids since early childhood, I am classified as legally blind, and I am night blind.

Although I worked as an engineer in the Canadian forest industry for five years and as a trail builder for two years — experiences that strengthened my problem-solving skills, work ethic, and ability to adapt to demanding outdoor environments — I stayed within what felt familiar and comfortable for much of my life. That changed after several major turning points pushed me to step beyond my comfort zone and face my fear of the unknown.

While my life circumstances have certainly presented challenges, they have also shaped me into an adaptable, resilient, persevering, and deeply appreciative person. I am here to share that meaningful, capable, and adventurous lives are absolutely possible for people with disabilities.

One of the most significant turning points in my life was embarking on what was meant to be a four-month solo backpacking trip to New Zealand, which ultimately turned into four years of living there. That experience was life-changing. During my time in New Zealand, I achieved many things I once believed were impossible for me because of my disabilities. I safely and effectively worked in a wide range of physically and mentally demanding roles — often in fast-paced environments — including kiwifruit orchards, vineyards, factories, fishing vessels, ports, landscaping, conservation, and organic farm work, where adaptability and self-reliance were essential.

It was there that I became the empowered, self-advocating individual I am today. I no longer focus on what I can’t do, such as driving. While my disabilities are still part of my everyday life, my lived experience has given me perspective, gratitude, and a strong focus on the life that I can live.

My time in New Zealand fostered a love for music festivals, ecstatic dancing, and community living. This inspired me to try something new after returning to Canada: volunteering at music festivals. Since then, I have volunteered on a waste and recycling management team at Bass Coast, a post-festival site clean-up team at Shambhala, a traffic management and parking team at Electric Love, and a trail-building and glamping tent setup team at Wicked Woods. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these experiences and the strong sense of inclusion, teamwork, and contribution they provided.

Fully embracing my hearing and visual impairments has expanded my adaptability, independence, capability, and resourcefulness. These experiences have helped me become more patient, sensorially observant, and a stronger communicator. My remaining vision is through a narrow tunnel of central vision, which is still very clear, while my peripheral vision is minimal. Unfamiliar, fast-moving, and dimly lit environments require me to slow down and scan carefully, and I may use a light or ask for assistance when needed. Clear communication and simple awareness make a big difference, and I’m always happy to explain what works best.

I bring enthusiasm and skills related to physical work, yard and gardening projects, nature and eco-focused initiatives, general maintenance and light construction, cleaning and organizing, as well as community-oriented and people-focused tasks. I’m dependable, follow instructions well, and communicate clearly about what I can and can’t do. I’m also flexible, open-minded, and grateful for opportunities to learn and grow.

As a homeowner and property owner myself, my most recent project involved building five raised garden beds from repurposed wood for the joy and purpose of growing my own vegetables. I understand the importance of taking pride in doing quality work carefully and reliably, while also being respectful of other people’s homes and spaces.

I absolutely love nature, the outdoors, and active living — including cycling, kayaking, hiking, camping, swimming, skiing, travelling, cooking, and yoga. I feel most at home in places where I can spend time outside and connect with nature. I am also passionate about connecting with people and contributing to community life, especially through advocacy, inclusion, and sharing experiences across cultures. I’m seeking Workaway experiences where I can be part of a welcoming team in an inclusive environment, contribute meaningfully, and continue learning new skills. I’m especially drawn to hosts who value nature, sustainability, community, and mutual respect.

My journey of self-discovery and human connection has come from choosing authenticity and courage over fear. These experiences have inspired my dream of becoming a uniquely abled, self-advocating World traveler who fosters understanding of people navigating the world with hearing and visual impairment. To me, there is now no greater form of inclusion or education than what comes from travelling, exploring, contributing, exchanging, learning, and connecting — which is why Workaway resonates so deeply with me.

I believe the best Workaway experiences begin with open, honest communication on both sides, and I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my story and for the opportunity to turn this dream Workaway life into a lived reality and beyond.

With genuine sincerity and love,
Cody Campbell

Interests

Plant care

Winter sports

Water sports

Yoga / Wellness

Writing

Sustainability

Self development

Photography

Mountain

Music

Outdoor activities

Nature

Hitchhiking

Hiking

Gardening

Farming

Events & social

DIY & crafts

Dancing

Culture

Cycling

Cooking & food

Charity work

Carpentry

Camping

Beach

Adventure sports

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent

More details about my language interests
English is the only language I know.I'm interested in teaching it.Open to learning the basics of other languages.

Find a language partner

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Light maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Charity Work

More details about your skills

I have skills from working for five years as a forestry technician laying out logging cut blocks and roads, skills from working two years as a trail builder constructing hiking and mountain biking trails, and skills from working a season each as a parks maintenance summer student and as a forest fire fighter, and I have skills from other non work related experiences.

I have personal and work related skills and experience with lawn mowing, weed whipping, garbage collecting, snow removing, landscaping, flower bed and vegetable patch gardening, brush sawing, chain sawing, swamping, grubbing, trail finishing, tree spacing, pruning, and chipping. I also have experience in the equipment operation of riding lawn mowers, motorized tracked wheel barrels, chippers, skid steers, packers, and mini hoes.

I have safely and effectively operated and maintained a variety of hand and power tools to complete tasks.
I have experience and skills from living in camp life settings, from travelling by vehicle and by foot through adverse weather conditions in remote places, and from doing hard manual labour.

I have operated jackhammers to break up bedrock for trail tread construction, I have demolished and removed old wooden crib steps and bridges, I have assisted with the construction and installation of wooden crib steps, fences, bridges, concrete forms, and concrete, and I have done lots of wood staining and painting.

I am comfortable with public speaking and have appeared on Global TV News and CBC Radio, I have led elementary school students through wetland education and Earth Day events, and I have volunteered as a door to door canvasser for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, as a gardener for Communities in Bloom, and as a meal prep and server for the Salvation Army.

I am acknowledged for honest and constructive communication and role model skills, I am known for being meticulous and having a keen eye for detail, and I am a hardworking, committed, reliable, and safe conscious individual who works well with others.

Age

35

What else ...

I am a person with disabilities.

I was born 80% hard of hearing and have worn hearing aids my whole life. My hearing aids are amazing in the sense that they've always restored my lack of hearing to close to that of a normal persons hearing, and so I've never really considered my hearing loss as much of a disability.

However, 10-15 years ago I started to notice that I was having troubles seeing in the dark, and after a lot of testing I was diagnosed with a rare form of Retinitis Pigmentosa called Ushers Syndrome which is a macular degeneration of my vision that is actually linked through nerves in my brain to my hearing loss, complicated right? Well as a result, my vision in the dark is quite limited and requires that I rely on the assistance of either a headlamp or a lovely human, my vision in the daylight however has remained fairly stable.

I do realize that a host reading this may be skeptical towards making Workaway arrangements with me but please keep in mind that I have gained the majority of my experience and skills as a person with disabilities, all while keeping a clean and valid driving and safety record. I consider myself quite capable of most things and the fact that I have proven that to myself and others inspires and motivates me to keep living life at the level I have and then some.
Have I been afraid of the unknown in the past? Perhaps. I grew up as an only child and have spent a fair bit of my early adult years working and playing solo, so I never really had a network or support group to help me understand that people way more disadvantaged than me have and will continue to do amazing things.

It wasn't until I realized that I just wasn't happy with the way things were going anymore that I started to reach out and challenge my comfort zones. I reconnected with some old school teachers who gave me suggestions, I participated in workshops relating to the wellness of my mental health, I went to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind to obtain a visually impaired persons ID cane so that I could go out to live music venues in town at night by myself and be understood by others as to why I didn't seem quite normal(I don't use the cane ever except sometimes in a dark music venue atmosphere), and I've participated in some great ski camps for a variety of disabled skiers that were led and coached by amazing paralympic athletes from all walks of life.
Since reaching out to, hearing and learning from, and sharing stories with different people, and starting to challenge myself more, I've become a lot less afraid of the unknowns and am ready to show you and myself that a person, no matter who they are, can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

I hope this latest bit of info about me doesn't discourage you from at least messaging with me or accepting me as a Workawayer. I am a genuine, kind hearted, soulful person who has nothing but good intentions and I think that I would make a great fit for a lot of Workaway hosts and volunteers.
I have a driver's license and drive on a regular basis here at home but I don't intend on having a vehicle or driving while in New Zealand if I don't have to, I plan to use public transit, bicycles, and my feet mostly to get around. I do smoke but I'm not a pack of cigarettes a day kind of smoker, I just like to have a cigar near the end of the day and would fully respect going well away from your property to do it.
Also, I'm a fan of a good beer, smaller live music venues, dancing, smiling and laughing!:)

There may be more info that I could provide for you but honestly my brain hurts from trying to best describe myself to you so I'll just leave it at this for now. Please don't hesitate to speak up if you've got any questions or comments about anything, I want to ensure open communication and full understandings.
Thanks for checking out my profile, hope you've enjoyed reading it, and I look forward to what the future holds.

Take care for now.
Sincerely yours,
Cody Joseph Campbell

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  No

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  Special dietary requirements
  No