Our bodies are built to handle a diverse range of stress. But often, our bodies develop complications that hamper our ability to handle and manage stress. For the founder and father of wheelchairs, his complications impacted him in more ways than one. The man in question is Ralph Braun, the founder of BraunAbility. In 1947, Braun was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a group of diseases that causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.

_{To The Bone}

But in Braun’s case, not only was his disease shrinking his muscle mass, it was shrinking his bone marrows as well. Yet, despite his doctors stating that he would never be independent, he and his parents aimed to prove them wrong. Though he lost his ability to walk at a young age, he set his mind on developing the first battery-powered scooter. In time, he would develop the world’s first wheelchair lift in 1962, installed within an old postal jeep with hand controls. Even though his ailment was taking a toll on his body, he was more determined than ever to show society that people with disabilities can be active in life.

_{A New Foundation}

Soon, his drive to retain his independence evolved into what would become his company, BraunAbility, which is the leading manufacturer of mobile products across the globe. Ralph Braun soon passed away at the age of 72 in 2013, and though he may be gone, his legacy has impacts the world to this day. His company, BraunAbility continues to live up to its founder’s legacy, providing the tools necessary for people with disabilities to continue living their lives in peace. Ralph Braun’s story is one of inspiration and determination to break the status quo; once he made his idea into a reality, it evolved into something much greater by the sum of their parts.

https://theableshow.com/blog

https://theableshow.com/braunabilitys-legacy-to-the-world

Work Cited

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscular-dystrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375388

https://www.braunability.com/us/en/about-us/ralph-braun.html

https://www.accessibilitychecker.org/blog/famous-people-with-disabilities