What We Do - Mission
Our Philosophy of Impact
We Create Possibilities for Quadriplegics
that provide Perspective
to find one's Purpose
- Encourage and empower all to contribute their talents to the best of their abilities.
- A community is strengthened by each member's contributions.
- Inclusive communities are strong communities.
We create Possibilities that provide Perspective to find one's unique Purpose.
- We all need to feel we have a future with POSSIBILITIES.
- Anyone without purpose feels lost and directionless.
- Many who experience disability, trauma, or disease feel a loss of self-identity - like their life is over.
- We change lives by providing PERSPECTIVE to see a future filled with possibilities.
- Only when family and community also perceive a future of possibilities, can they help their loved one re-engage in the community.
- We empower quadriplegic wheelchair users with the tools to rediscover themselves and find their unique PURPOSE.
- A purpose driven person contributes immeasurably to their community.
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Purpose -> The Answer to Why
Anyone without purpose feels lost and directionless. We humans have a deep psychological need to feel a sense of purpose.
Many who experience disability, trauma, or disease feel a loss of self-identity - like their life is over. Who they and others thought of themself as.
Why do you get up every morning? What drives you? Why are you alive? What justifies your existence? The lost souls in our communities are those who have no answer to these questions.
If nothing in your life has ever caused you to ask yourself these questions, count yourself blessed. You have found some happiness in your vocation. - what you feel compelled to do regardless of compensation.
We empower quadriplegic wheelchair users, and others with no use of their hands and arms, to rediscover themselves and find their unique PURPOSE. To see the trauma as an opportunity to choose who they want to be.
Perspective -> Education
We change lives by providing PERSPECTIVE to see a future filled with possibilities.
We are the light at the end of the tunnel for disabled individuals, their family and the professionals who support them.
We call this giving Perspective. One must believe in a future before it can be strived for and pursued.
Only when family and community also perceive a future of Possibilities, can they help their loved one re-engage in the community.
We Educate the Public
to stimulate a fundamental shift in PERSPECTIVE through inspiration, coverage in all forms of media, and by empowering quadriplegics to do what they do best by contributing their talents serving their communities.
We Educate our Representatives in Government
Through Informative Advocacy at all levels of government.
Possibilities -> Technology
We all need to feel we have a future with POSSIBILITIES.
We design and develop simple, effective tools that Empower quadriplegics.
Only when family and community also perceive a future of Possibilities, can they help their loved one re-engage in the community.
Why Design for Quadriplegics?
Almost everything designed for humans assumes finger dexterity. Five fingers on two hands that create and manipulate tools is core to what differentiates humans from other species.
The products and services a society produces are defined by how it will be used, and who will be using it filtered through culture.
Unfortunately, this leaves behind all who do not have use of their fingers, hands, and arms.
While sharing the challenge of getting around in a wheelchair with quadriplegics, most paraplegics, hemiplegics, and elderly can utilize most of the tools and technologies society produces that are designed to be utilized with hands and fingers.
By designing for quadriplegics, or simply those that are the most limited and most challenging, we create better solutions that meet the needs of almost all inclusively and more effectively.
Who we Serve
Everyone - We provide inspired perspectives to the public facilitated by social and professional media. By empowering the most vulnerable, we strengthen communities financially, morally, and socially. Inclusive Communities are strong communities.
Quadriplegics refers to paralysis that affects all four limbs, including the fingers, hands, arms, chest, legs, feet and toes, and may or may not include the head, neck, and shoulders. Causes of quadriplegia include cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), upper extremity amputees, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and brain stem stroke.
Levels of SCI Quadriplegia further qualify the extent of paralysis in the fingers, hands, arms, shoulders, chest, and neck. We use these levels to describe a quadriplegic's typical abilities rather than the injury site.
- C1 - Able to speak, use voice control, eyebrow switch or lip joystick control for gaming, smartphone, and computer. Can operate power wheelchair with tongue control retainer. Cannot turn their head, require a respirator to breathe. Wheelchair must remain in reclined position with head support
- C3 - Able to speak, move head, generally use respirator but able to get off for periods of time with diaphragm pacing neuroprosthetic
- C4 - Able to speak and move head and shrug shoulders. very little arm movement. Drive wheelchair with head array. Can feed themselves with a robotic arm.
- C5 - Able to move arms with shoulder deltoids, bicep, and brachialradialis muscles but no control of wrists or fingers. Can eat independently, drive wheelchair with joystick and able to drive motor vehicle with electronic hand controls. Typically insufficient strength to transfer themselves or use a manual wheelchair except on very flat smooth surfaces. Brachialradialis tendon transfer can provide wrist control and some some tenodiesis to pick up light things with thumb and forefinger. Bicep to tricep tendon transfer can provide some elbow extension.
- C6 - Able to control wrists. but no finger function without a tendon transfer to add some grasp between the thumb and forefinger. Can push a manual wheelchair but most use a power wheelchair. young and strong C6s can transfer themselves but require assistance with age. Can drive a motor vehicle with mechanical hand controls.
- C7 - Can easily be mistaken for a paraplegic since they have some grasp in thumbs and first two fingers. able to push a manual wheelchair, transfer themselves and dress independently and are the power players in Quad Rugby
ALS| Brain Stem Stroke | MD | SMA | MS| TBI
Amputees of both Hands / Arms
Hemiplegia refers to paralysis that affects one-half of the body but not both. Causes are a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Brachial Plexus Injuries cause complete paralysis in one arm, including the hand and fingers. One Hand or Arm Amputees have similar challenges.
Paraplegia refers to paralysis of the legs from the chest or waist down, but they retain full use of their hands and arms. Causes include thoracic spinal cord injury in the middle or lower back, spina bifida from birth, or simply aging.
All Wheelchair Users while sharing the challenge of getting around in a wheelchair with quadriplegics, most paraplegics and elderly, and hemiplegics can utilize most of the tools and technologies society produces that are designed to be utilized with hands and fingers. We offer wheelchair-friendly home modifications such as door openers and threshold ramps, travel and funding resources, handcycle arm bikes, and wheelchair-accessible yachting experiences for our fellow wheelchair users.
