Blind Skier Turned Scuba Diver Lands Role in Upcoming Film

Diveheart founder Jim Elliott's book "Sharing Air" is being adapted into a movie, with the real-life inspiration for a character set to play that role.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:49pm

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In the 1980s, Jim Elliott began teaching blind children and adults to downhill ski. He later convinced a young blind man named Dan Barrett to try scuba diving with his organization Diveheart. Years later, Elliott wrote a book called "Sharing Air" that featured a character inspired by Barrett's real-life experiences. Now, Barrett has been recruited to join the cast of the upcoming film adaptation of "Sharing Air", where he will play the character based on himself.

Why it matters

This story highlights the transformative power of adaptive sports and activities like skiing and scuba diving for people with disabilities. It also demonstrates the serendipitous nature of storytelling, where a real-life experience can inspire a fictional character who then becomes embodied by the original source of inspiration.

The details

Elliott first started teaching blind skiers in the 1980s, inspired by his own daughter's blindness. He later met Dan Barrett and convinced him to try scuba diving with Diveheart. Years later, Elliott co-wrote a book called "Sharing Air" that featured a character based on Barrett's experiences. Now, Barrett has been cast to play that very character in the film adaptation of the book, which will begin filming in March 2026 in the Chicago area and wrap up in Key Largo, Florida.

  • In the mid-1980s, Elliott started teaching blind children and adults to downhill ski.
  • Over 20 years ago, Elliott met Dan Barrett and convinced him to try scuba diving with Diveheart.
  • Years later, Elliott co-wrote the book "Sharing Air" which featured a character inspired by Barrett's experiences.
  • Filming for the movie adaptation of "Sharing Air" will begin in March 2026 and wrap up in early April.

The players

Jim Elliott

The founder of Diveheart, an organization that teaches people with disabilities like blindness to participate in adaptive sports like skiing and scuba diving.

Dan Barrett

A blind man who was convinced by Elliott to try scuba diving with Diveheart, and whose experiences inspired a character in Elliott's book "Sharing Air" that he will now portray in the film adaptation.

David Marsh

An award-winning filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of "Sharing Air" based on Elliott's book.

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What they’re saying

“What a serendipitous turn of events to have the person who inspired a character in the book actually become part of the cast in the film and be able to play himself in the film. You can't make this stuff up.”

— David Marsh, Filmmaker

What’s next

Filming for the movie adaptation of "Sharing Air" will begin in March 2026 in the western suburbs of Chicago and wrap up in Key Largo, Florida in early April.

The takeaway

This story demonstrates the profound impact that adaptive sports and activities can have on people with disabilities, empowering them and building their confidence and independence. It also highlights the serendipitous nature of storytelling, where real-life experiences can inspire fictional narratives that then come full circle to incorporate the original sources of inspiration.