Thomas Daniel Queter's powerful statement sets the tone for this eye-opening conversation: "When your wheelchair breaks down, you become unseen and unheard." Recording from the Abilities Expo in Chicago, this speedcast features the founder of the Mobility Independence Foundation sharing his revolutionary approach to mobility equipment access.
Born with osteogenesis imperfecta and having experienced approximately 2,000 fractures throughout his life, Thomas found himself trapped in his apartment for five years when the healthcare system offered only wheelchairs that would have led to injury. His solution? Creating an open-source wheelchair design that lasts 30 years, charges in just six hours, and can be built by community members with basic technical skills. The contrast is stark – while people typically wait 1-3 years for wheelchairs through insurance.
The conversation exposes troubling realities about mobility equipment access, including Medicare's "in-home rule" which states equipment only needs to be adequate for moving between bed and bathroom.
Thomas's passionate message resonates throughout: "If you have a problem, there is a solution. Build teams, find your tenacity, do not give up." Check out The Mobility Independence Foundation at THEMIF.org and watch for their documentary "The Power to Move" to learn how you can support this important movement revolutionizing access to mobility equipment.