In the fight for deaf rights, it’s ALL HANDS ON!

This past summer, Deaf rights advocate and ROAD WARRIOR Levi Wood raised over $10,000 in support of disability data justice biking the INFAMOUS TransAmerica trail. This spring, Levi Wood is taking the movement overseas—biking the full circuit of Taiwan Route No. 1, the island’s legendary round-island road, to raise awareness and funds for the Global Deaf Research Institute (GDRI), the only deaf-led nonprofit conducting international research not only on deaf communities, but with them.

From the coastal cliffs of Hualien to the rice fields of Taitung and the bright bustle of Taipei, Levi is riding to amplify deaf voices, put deaf stories on the world map, and raise ANOTHER $10,000 to fuel GDRI’s life-changing global research.

Meet the Rider

Levi Wood

Born in the heartland of Indiana and now pedaling out of Washington, DC, Levi is a linguistics student at Gallaudet University with a passion for protecting ASL and pushing limits—on and off the bike. Cycling is practically a family tradition (his dad’s a Deaflympian!), which means Levi grew up knowing that speed, stamina, and a little stubborn joy can take you pretty far.

This past summer, Levi led GDRI’s inaugural All Hands On! campaign—biking across the entire United States and raising more than $10,000 to support deaf-led research around the world. Be sure to check out his journey, and all the friends he made along the way, at @allhandsontransam on instagram! That ride proved not only his endurance, but also the power of community when deaf stories are put front and center. Levi set his sights on something new: riding across an island nation known for its mountains, ocean roads, and beautifully complex sign language landscape. Taiwan’s Deaf community is vibrant, politically active, and newly recognized in national policy conversations—making it the perfect place to spotlight the global fight for deaf inclusion.

Levi’s chosen companion on this adventure? A Canyon Grizl Raw 7—rugged enough for Taiwan’s coastlines, nimble enough for its winding climbs, and just rebellious enough to match him.

The Route

Taiwan’s Route No. 1 is a dream for long-distance riders. Circumnavigating the entire island, it winds through dramatic eastern cliffs, sweeping Pacific vistas, lush tropical plains, and electric cityscapes. Travelers often describe it as a journey through multiple worlds in a single loop.

For Levi, every turn of the wheel is a message: deaf people deserve to be counted, heard, and included—everywhere.

The Cause

The Global Deaf Research Institute (GDRI) is a deaf-led nonprofit closing the data gap that has kept deaf people invisible for too long. Across the world, deaf communities are missing from national statistics—erased from policies, ignored in budgets, and excluded from the decisions that shape their lives.

GDRI partners with local deaf leaders to change that reality, gathering powerful data that demands to be seen, understood, and acted upon. Because deaf people deserve to be counted—not just in numbers, but in the systems, stories, and futures that define global health and human rights.

Language barriers often prevent deaf people from accessing the research world entirely, which means they’re underrepresented in health and policy research—even compared to other disabled groups. GDRI’s model centers deaf involvement at every stage, proving that research with deaf communities leads to stronger evidence, better programs, and policies that actually reflect lived experience.

To date, GDRI has deployed in Nigeria and Ecuador, conducting first-of-its-kind studies, training local deaf researchers, and partnering with national disability bodies to ensure the findings translate into real change. With each project, the goal is the same: visibility, accountability, and lasting impact.

And now, Levi’s ride across Taiwan helps fuel the next chapters.

Learn more at www.globaldeafresearch.org

All Hands ON! Taiwan!

By Global Deaf Research Institute

All Hands ON! Taiwan!

Riding for Representation Across Taiwan

Team Members