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BraunAbility
BraunAbility is an American manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vans and wheelchair lifts based in Winamac, Indiana. It is currently owned by Investor AB. The company was founded by Ralph Braun, who had spinal muscular atrophy Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting. It is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and if left untreated it is the most common genet .... Braun designed a wheelchair lift and steering controls, which allowed him to drive a 1970 converted full size Dodge van. He began converting vans to sell to others. As sales grew, Braun was able to acquire Independent Mobility Systems. IMS had previously been the largest manufacturer of wheelchair minivans. Braun also acquired the Viewpoint Mobility line of wheelchair minivans, United Access, Performance Mobility, Kersey Mobility, ADA and Wheel Chair Vans of Florida. Company sales have grown to $950 mil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ralph Braun
Ralph William Braun (December 18, 1940 – February 8, 2013) was the founder and CEO of the Braun Corporation. He is also known as the "Father of the Mobility Movement" at BraunAbility. Early life Braun was born and raised in Winamac, Indiana. When he was six years old, doctors diagnosed him with muscular dystrophy. He started using a wheelchair at the age of 14. At the age of 15, he created a motorized wagon with his father to help him get around. Five years later, Braun created a motorized scooter, which he called the Tri-Wheeler, using various parts from his cousin’s farm. Ralph rode the Tri-Wheeler to and from his day job as a Quality Control Manager for a nearby manufacturer. When the facility moved several miles away, he equipped an old mail carrier Jeep with hand controls and a hydraulic tailgate lift, enabling him to drive his Tri-Wheeler in and out of the vehicle unassisted. In 1970, Dodge introduced the first full-sized, front engine van. Braun retrofitted a Dodge v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Winamac, Indiana
Winamac is a town in Monroe Township, Pulaski County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 2,490 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pulaski County. History The town's name came from the Potawatomi word for "catfish." It was selected as the county seat in 1839. Winamac was incorporated as a town in 1868. The Winamac post office has been in operation since 1839. Pulaski County Courthouse, Dr. George W. Thompson House, and Vurpillat's Opera House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Geography Winamac is located at (41.0525, -86.6044). According to the 2010 census, Winamac has a total area of , all land. Demographics 2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 2,490 people, 1,028 households, and 617 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 1,140 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Investor AB
Investor AB is a Swedish investment and ''de facto'' conglomerate holding company. It was founded in 1916 and is still controlled by the Wallenberg family through their Foundation Asset Management company FAM. The company owns a controlling stake in several large Swedish companies, with smaller positions in a number of other firms. History Investor AB was established by the Wallenberg family in Stockholm in 1916 when new Swedish legislation made it more difficult for banks to own stocks in industrial companies on a long-term basis. The shareholdings of the family bank, Stockholms Enskilda Bank ( SEB today), were transferred to Investor AB, a newly formed industrial holding company spun out of the bank. Investments Listed companies Investor AB own significant minority stakes in listed companies and are typically the largest shareholder. * ABB - Provides electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids. * AstraZeneca - A biopharmaceutical c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wheelchair Accessible Van
A wheelchair-accessible van is a vehicle that has been modified by increasing the interior size of the vehicle and equipping it with a means of wheelchair entry, such as a wheelchair ramp or powered lift. Modifications The general steps manufacturers undergo to convert a van differ greatly from one manufacturer to another. Modifications fall into two categories, the first is where the individual in a wheelchair is the driver and the second is where the individual in a wheelchair is a passenger. Conversions generally involve the following: *Some portion of the floor is lowered typically from the rear seats forward to the firewall *Floors are typically lowered 10" to 14" on a minivan for side entry accessibility and a standard 10" for a rear entry *An ADA compliant accessible van must meet certain requirements such as; a door height opening of 56" or greater, a ramp width of at least 30" in width, with ramp edges 2" high, and finally a ramp angle of a 6:1 ratio or rise *A rear ent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wheelchair Lift
A wheelchair lift, also known as a platform lift, or vertical platform lift, is a fully powered device designed to raise a wheelchair and its occupant in order to overcome a step or similar vertical barrier. Wheelchair lifts can be installed in homes or businesses and are often added to both private and public vehicles in order to meet accessibility requirements laid out by disability acts. These mobility devices are often installed in homes as an alternative to a stair lift, which only transport a passenger and not his/her wheelchair or mobility scooter. Regulations In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) required that all new mass transit vehicles placed into service after July 1, 1993, be accessible to persons in wheelchairs,"Getting on board" (July–August 1993). ''Trolleybus Magazine'' No. 190, pp. 86–87. National Trolleybus Association (UK). . and until the 2000s, this requirement was most commonly met by the inclusion of a wheelc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting. It is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and if left untreated it is the most common genetic cause of infant death. It may also appear later in life and then have a milder course of the disease. The common feature is progressive weakness of voluntary muscles, with arm, leg and respiratory muscles being affected first. Associated problems may include poor head control, difficulties swallowing, scoliosis, and joint contractures. The age of onset and the severity of symptoms form the basis of the traditional classification of spinal muscular atrophy into a number of types. Spinal muscular atrophy is due to an abnormality (mutation) in the '' SMN1'' gene which encodes SMN, a protein necessary for survival of motor neurons. Loss of these neurons in the spinal cord prevents signalling between the brain and skeletal muscles. Anot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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