Meet the mom that's helping us improve disability outcomes for children! In this heartfelt interview, Eliana shares her family’s story of resilience and advocacy. youtu.be/tucM7lsbzT4 Learn more and support the RazRover project here: www.zeffy.com/en-US/donati...

Dr. Daniel Chaves Board Member Dr. Daniel Chaves is a physician, sports physiology specialist, & healthcare innovator with 9+ years of experience in clinical care, surgery, public health, & medical education. He drives frontier technologies—biosensors, AI-powered diagnostics, and mobility devices

Take Action! Ready to make an impact? Every contribution to The Mobility Independence Foundation fuels a future where mobility is a right, not a privilege. Donate today and help us deliver open-source solutions, advocacy, and direct support to those who need it most. Give now: themif.org

Team Spotlight Andy Weyant Assistant Secretary A financial planning business owner and current president of the Board of Directors of Independent Living Inc., Andy’s remains active in his community despite a permanent spinal injury.

Academic Partnerships Innovation happens when bright minds come together. MIF partners with universities to design open-source mobility solutions that are practical, repairable, and globally accessible. We are proving that collaboration fuels independence. Explore our projects: themif.org

Team Spotlight Tom Pinkhasov Operations Director A dynamic professional based in New York City, Tom brings over 6 years of experience. He owns and operates a firm providing business, financial, and consultancy services to non-profits and small businesses nationwide.

Your story matters. We are collecting testimonials from people who rely on mobility equipment—because lived experience drives change. Record a short video or audio clip and share your journey with us. Together, we can amplify voices that too often go unheard. Submit here: [email protected]

Donna Quiter Trustee Daughter, wife, & mother of disabled persons, Donna’s experience with financial and disability management stems from her work at an insurance company, disabled veteran housing, and a university purchasing clerk. "Society has come a long way, just not far enough yet"

Award-winning and internationally recognized, The Power To Move tells the story of our founder’s journey from being trapped in his apartment for five years to creating open-source solutions that restore independence. Want to host a screening in your community? Email [email protected]

Jonathan Howe Secretary A public defender and part-time cat rescuer, Jonathan joined The MIF after years of seeing friends, neighbors, and clients with mobility issues struggling to get around New York City.

Halloween is about joy, play, and belonging. For kids with disabilities, that requires mobility equipment that’s repairable and ready. Swift access means they can participate fully—tonight and every night. #MobilityMatters

Matthew Lacey Vice President & Director of R&D With a background in manufacturing and industrial maintenance, working on both electrical and mechanical machinery, Matthew believes a community should come together and help each other and those who cannot help themselves.

Mobility is Independence. We believe accessibility is a right, not a privilege. Through education, advocacy, and direct action, we are creating solutions that empower people with disabilities. Join us in building a future where mobility means freedom. Learn more: themif.org

Team Spotlight: Thomas Quiter Founder & President Born in 1983 with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Thomas always advocates for himself and others with disabilities, stating “I do nothing if it doesn’t benefit others.”

🎬 The Power to Move—our 4x award‑winning doc on the fight for mobility independence—is coming to North Carolina this Spring! 🌸🐦 Details soon. Stay tuned to join the movement. 💪 #ThePowerToMove #MobilityIndependence #Inclusion #RepairRights

🎬 The Power to Move—4x award-winning doc on mobility independence 📅 Nov 7 | 🕕 6PM Doors | 🎥 7PM Film | 💬 8PM Q&A 📍 Foothills PAC, Oneonta, NY 🎟️ Free tix: tinyurl.com/TheMIF 🔗 Info: thepowertomovefilm.com #ThePowerToMove #RepairRights #Inclusion

🚀 In Phoenix to meet Si Se Puede STEM center, our Endurance test platform’s motor died. Thanks to open hardware, a part arrived next day & they gave us space/tools to fix it. Months of delay became 1 day—while sparking plans to teach kids to build their own solutions. #STEM

🏆 The Power to Move just scored its 3rd & 4th wins at the Accolade Global Film Competition! 🏅 Award of Merit: Disability Issues 🏅 Award of Merit: Documentary Feature Huge thanks to Nathaniel Hamilton & Emma Rimsa for producing, writing & directing this powerful story! 💪 #ThePowerToMove #FilmAward

Honored to visit ASU to share The Power to Move and inspire spring’s student challenge. Last year’s winner, The Explorer — a $400 kids’ training wheelchair — shows how innovation + empathy can change lives. The students’ passion was unforgettable. #OpenHardware #Accessibility #DisabilityAwareness

Proud to join ASU in unveiling The Explorer — a $400 open-hardware kids’ training wheelchair by Dr. Danial Chavez, MIF board member. It gives children the mobility they need to explore, learn, and grow when access to power chairs is unfairly denied. #DisabilityAwareness #WheelchairLife

🏆✨ Big news! Our doc The Power To Move won Best Documentary at the Festigious Int’l Film Festival! 🎬🌍 A FilmFreeway Gold fest & partner of Top Shorts, NY Film Awards & more. Grateful to our team & supporters—this is for you! ❤️ Learn more: themif.org #ThePowerToMove

On the way to Phoenix for #AbilitiesExpo & ASU, our founder’s car hit a deer in KY. Grateful no one was hurt 🙏 but had to rent an accessible van for $3,500. Help us keep 2025 plans rolling: donate at themif.org or mail to 1789 State Hwy 8, Mt Upton, NY 13809 ❤️

💪 Use it or Lose it 💪 Movement matters — every joint you move & muscle you engage helps maintain strength, flexibility & independence. Shift, stretch, lift, repeat. Your body is your most important equipment — keep it strong. #UseItOrLoseIt #MobilityIndependence

**🛡️ Skin Health = Independence 🛡️** For wheelchair users, healthy skin is more than comfort — it’s freedom of movement, confidence, and independence. Regular skin checks can help you catch small issues before they become big problems. **Here’s how to protect your skin every day:**

💡 Introducing: COMMUNITY CONCEPTS 💡 Got an idea to improve mobility equipment? Big or small, we want to hear it! 📩 Email [email protected] — sketches, notes, or simple explanations welcome. Top ideas could become real prototypes with our university partners.

On Sept 8, we’re bringing The Power To Move to Arizona State University! 🎬 Screening + discussion with students & faculty, plus talks on a potential Spring project. 💙 #MobilityIndependence #ThePowerToMove #ASU

We’re proud to welcome Louis Rossmann to our Board of Advisors! 🔧 His Right to Repair advocacy aligns with our open hardware model—ensuring every mobility design we create can be repaired & modified by the people who use them. 💙 #RightToRepair #OpenHardware

We’re headed to the Phoenix Abilities Expo! 📅 Sept 5–7 @ WestWorld of Scottsdale. See The Explorer & The Endurance prototypes in action! FREE admission. #AbilitiesExpo #MobilityIndependence #AccessibilityMatters

🚀 A new era is coming to the Mobility Independence Foundation online! Our redesigned website will feature a fresh look, easier navigation & improved accessibility for the vision‑impaired. Launching soon—stay tuned! 💙 #AccessibilityMatters #ComingSoon

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Daniel Chaves to the Mobility Independence Foundation Board! 🌍 A global innovator in medicine & tech, he’s advancing robotic rehab, neuro‑mobility & AI‑driven recovery to restore independence worldwide. 💙 #AccessibilityForAll

♿💡 Coming Sept 2025 — The Equipment Exchange Portal: free, open‑source designs + parts swaps + a collab hub for the disability, engineering & maker communities. Already backed by dozens of orgs nationwide. Mobility is a right. Innovation should be shared. #OpenSourceMobility

🚲 From Bicycle Parts to Life‑Changing Mobility 🚲 In collaboration with Northeastern University’s Bioengineering Department, we’re developing a wheelchair‑style mobility device using common bicycle and other components, accessible globally. ✅ Mobility as a global right #Disability

🌟 Meet “The Explorer” — Big Impact for Little Drivers 🌟 In partnership with Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation, we’ve created The Explorer — a small power wheelchair that helps kids with mobility impairments learn joystick control and navigation.

🚀 The Endurance is Almost Here! 🚀 Our flagship open‑source mobility device is entering final testing and set for release in late 2025. The Endurance is rugged, modular, and built on the proven OmegaTrac platform — ready for both off‑road adventures and everyday use at home.

The Mobility Independence Foundation earned a $5K grant after rocking the #DWeb course w/ @TechSoup’s Cultural Memory Lab 🎉 💡 Open‑source accessibility repo = tech for independence 🙌 Huge thanks to leaders Chase Kahn & Matt Lacey #TechForGood #OpenSourceAccessibility #InclusionByDesign

The goal is to make producing the designs as easy as possible. We want to facilitate easy provision to those in need. Our team is always designing with local and scale production at the forefront of their minds. Like 3 parallel surfaces to make fixturing and machining a easier!

Watch our lead mechanical engineer at work! CAD live stream schedule: Mondays: 8pm to 11pm Wednesdays: 8pm to 11pm Fridays: 8pm till Devin can't keep his eyes open! Sundays: 1pm to 6pm

The Mobility Independence Foundation is proud to partner with **You Are The Power** to fight this injustice, reunite families, and demand accountability. #DisabilityJustice #EndWrongfulRemoval #RightToFamily #YouAreThePower #MobilityIndependence

Our award-winning documentary continues to gain momentum, and we’re honored to be recognized again for our work in open-source storytelling and accessible technology. Head on over to our website to learn all about The Power To Move!

Meet the Team: Tom Pinkh 📢 Operations Director, Board Of Directors Tom Pinkh is a dynamic professional based in New York City with extensive experience across the fields of business operations, start-ups, and policy. Tom is a crucial element of what keeps MIF's gears turning.

August is SMA Awareness Month—a time to spotlight this rare, progressive disease that weakens muscles by targeting motor neurons. Awareness fuels research, support, and innovative tools that empower independence.

Our debut documentary The Power to Move earned “Best Values” at the Anthem Film Festival for its emotional honesty and urgent call to action. It’s now sparking national conversations, inspiring volunteers, and driving change for accessible, community-driven tech. Learn all about it on our website!

In partnership with the University of Rochester, we’ve created a modular open-source seating system that’s safe, adaptable, and user-repairable. From tilt and recline to expandable seats, it’s a step toward mobility solutions built on freedom and community innovation.

Open hardware through R2R empowers wheelchair users to bypass monopolistic repair barriers by making parts, tools, and documentation freely available. It’s a tangible way to subvert the duopoly and accelerate access—no new laws needed, just shared knowledge. Learn all about it at the MIF website!

We’re thrilled to share that our award-winning documentary has been accepted into its second film festival—this time at The North Idaho Film Festival! Grateful for the opportunity to keep spreading our message through open-source storytelling and accessible tech.

Meet the Team: Emily S. Goldberg 📢 Communications Director Emily Goldberg is a Certified Paralegal and Communications Professional in Phoenix, Arizona. She was honored to join MIF’s board in 2024 and is excited to amplify MIF’s voice, giving mobility a green light!

Today, we honor the heroes who were wounded or gave their lives in service—National Purple Heart Day reminds us of the cost of freedom and the strength of those who protect it. Let’s use technology, open-source innovation, and human rights advocacy to better support veterans of all abilities.

Our debut documentary The Power to Move is more than a film—it’s a call to action on the systemic failures leaving millions without mobility. Honored to be recognized for its impact and to see it fueling change across communities nationwide.

Led by Professor Daniel Grindle at Northeastern University, student teams are pioneering a wheelchair-style device built from bicycle parts—designed for global repairability and access. This open-source project champions mobility as a human right, not a luxury.

International Assistance Dog Week 2025 runs from August 3rd to 9th, celebrating the incredible impact these dogs have on the lives of people with disabilities. They’re more than companions—they’re partners in independence, dignity, and daily empowerment.