The Mobility Independence Foundation

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: thomas@themif.org

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 thomas@themif.org

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 thomas@themif.org — 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.

Already, makerspaces, independent builders, and partners across the U.S. are prototyping and assembling their own. This is more than equipment — it’s a movement for independence, accessibility, and choice.
#OpenSourceMobility #RightToRepair #TheEndurance #MobilityIndependence #AccessibilityForAll

✅ Fully open‑source — free personal‑use schematics, with licensing for manufacturing
✅ Repairable & customizable — using parts from common suppliers
✅ Durable by design — made to thrive in rugged or rural terrain

🚀 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.