American History, Unfiltered: Ralph Braun

American History, Unfiltered:A post series highlighting people from traditionally marginalized groups who accomplished great things for America.

Today we talk about the “Father of the Mobility Movement”, Ralph Braun. 

At age 7, he was diagnosed with 

 Spinal Muscular Atrophy and in the next few years lost his ability to walk. This early life led to him engineering the first battery powered scooter, and then the world’s first wheelchair lift, installed in an old Jeep, complete with hand controls.

Determined to prove to the world that people with disabilities can be fully independent, the inventing didn’t stop there. 

At age 22, he built his first motorized wheelchair in his cousin’s farm shop. His business turned into a world-renowned industry and improved thousands of lives.

He once said, “I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”