All About Brad

I'm glad I went on the mission to Guatemala with Wheelchairs for Kids International. It was a life-changing experience. I'm ready to go again even although it has been several weeks already since we returned.

There's an amazing thing that happens when you watch a child smile from ear-to-ear because they finally have a set of wheels that will drastically change their lives-- the neighborhood kids think they're super cool, they're now independent and free from the isolation that many children with disabilities experience.

My prayers these days are for (1) Juan, and (2) for the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities to pass in the U.S. Senate this year, and (3) for USAID, other U.S. companies and foundations (e.g. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and  international human rights organizations to realize that it won't do any good for countries to create curb cuts and make their buildings accessible if their kids and adults don't have access to wheelchairs. Funding non-profits like Wheelchairs for Kids International is one of the first steps the U.S. should take when they finally do ratify. We can help countries all day long by sharing our knowledge and experience but we won't be helping anyone with physical disabilities in developing countries if they can't get a wheelchair first. We can do this..
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Brad Blauser



Brad Blauser in Antigua, Guatemala

Before I actually met Brad we had talked on the phone and chatted online about his non-profit. I knew he was a good man because of his work in Iraq providing wheelchairs to children. And, I knew he was a risk-taker because he went to Iraq as a contractor. 

You're probably wondering why I'm writing about him? Why was getting to know him important?

If I was a potential donor then I would want to know about the non-profit, it's history, and it's founder and executive director. Is this an entrepreneur who invests a little time and effort into something and then hands it over? I've seen plenty of those come and go! Or, it is a passionate advocate who works night and day to make a difference? I also want to know if the money donated will actually go to children with disabilities who need wheelchairs or will most of it go towards administrative costs, hired expensive professional fundraisers and marketing?

Brad falls in the latter category -- he's a passionate advocate. You have to respect a man who witnesses or hears about an injustice and takes action. This is one of the characteristics of an advocate -- you have the experience, you cry/pray/meditate, and you give 100% of your time, expertise, and energy (even if it takes years) toward fixing it. It's how I got started as an advocate and why I'm still working on issues that were important to me 20 years ago. You don't give up. You may need to make some adjustments but you stay the course.

Will your donations go towards purchasing and providing pediatric wheelchairs? Absolutely.



Brad spoke a lot about his experiences in Iraq as a contractor and also about the wheelchair distributions and special children and families that he met that I could tell meant lot to him. His life was changed by the experience. He could've easily have arranged for the wheelchairs to be brought over and just given them to the local authorities but he wanted to make sure they got to the Iraqi children. He risked his life to make sure that happened. Iraq was a dangerous place. You couldn't give advance notice that you were going to a town to do a seating clinic because the enemy would know and plan to bomb or ambush the distribution. Seating clinics had to be conducted quickly because news spread fast. How many  advocates can say they risked their life to make sure a child received what they needed? I know I can't. This is why Brad was nominated as the 2009 CNN Hero.

I think I made a friend for life when I met Brad. He's one of the people I'd want in my life raft or my fox hole. He has all the principles and values that I respect -- honor (personal integrity), courage, and commitment. It's never about him and always about the children. God chose well when he picked Brad, and his Mum (a Southern Gem!) must've done one heck of a job raising him to be such a wonderful compassionate person.

Please consider donating and volunteering a little of your time towards helping Wheelchairs for Kids International provide wheelchairs for children with disabilities who spend their life on the floor crawling or being carried.



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Donations change the lives of children with disabilities all over the world. If 100 people donate just $20 each then 6-8 children will receive wheelchairs. Please visit Wheelchairs for Kids International and learn how you can make a difference; help a child go to school; play with their friends, and just be kids..

Visit: http://kidchairs4life.org/WFKIDonate.html