How One Man's Search for Mobility Helped the World Get Moving
Founder of The Braun Corporation, Ralph Braun was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and told he would never see his 13th Birthday. Ralph Braun had two options: sit and wait for that prediction to come true or use those words as fuel to prove it wrong. He never gave a second thought to which path he would choose. Not only did Ralph live to see his 13th birthday, but he founded The Braun Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of mobility vehicles.
When Ralph could not longer rely on his own two legs, and he’d outgrown piggyback rides on his father’s back, he began using a wheelchair. Life went on, and Ralph was determined to find a way to keep up with it. He wanted an education, a career and a family, just like anyone else; he just had to work a little harder at it.
First he invented a motorized scooter, the Tri-Wheeler, so he could conserve energy and keep his job as a quality control inspector at a nearby factory. When the factory moved a few miles from his home, he outfitted an old postal jeep with hand controls and a hydraulic lift so he could have reliable transportation to and from work no matter the weather. As his mobility increased, so did attention from the disabled community.
Fifty years ago he was a young man in a wheelchair who needed to get to work.Today Ralph Braun is CEO of The Braun Corporation, the largest manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the world. Capitalizing on the age-old saying "Necessity is the mother of inventory" Braun refused to let his disability hold him back and, in the process, brought independence and mobility to thousands.
Ralph Braun’s book, Rise Above, tells the story of how self-reliance, common sense, and a refusal to accept the status quo led to one man's triumph in business and in life. To purchase: Rise Above: How One Man's Search for Mobility Helped the World Get Moving - Hardcover Feb. 15, 2010) by Ralph W. Braun visit http://www.braunability.com/rise-above.cfm.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.