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THE BRAUN CORPORATION EXPERIENCES THE CUSTOMER’S PERSPECTIVE THROUGH WHEELCHAIR FOR A DAY PROGRAM

Contact: Lindsey Steinseifer
Padilla Speer Beardsley
LSteinseifer@psbpr.com
212-752-8338

WINAMAC, IN., November 9, 2010 – The Braun Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vans, ramps and wheelchair lifts, recently initiated a “Wheelchair for a Day” program to raise awareness of daily mobility challenges that its customers experience.

As part of the program, four Braun employees spent a typical work day in a wheelchair at the company’s headquarters in Winamac to better understand the difficulties customers encounter in the workplace. Additionally, participants took a BraunAbility Wheelchair Van out into the community to experience how the company’s products actually work from a wheelchair-user’s perspective.

“What we quickly discovered is that even the smallest of tasks became complicated, whether it was doing a routine inspection at our factory or taking a trip to get lunch,” said Nick Gutwein, president of The Braun Corporation. “While our Wheelchair for a Day program does not fully reflect what people with disabilities experience, it offered an eye-opening glimpse into the daily lives of our customers that has allowed us to better appreciate their needs.”

Among the Wheelchair for a Day program participants were President Nick Gutwein, Quality Line Inspector Jeff Zeider, Paratransit Engineering Manager Rob Bettcher and Director of Fabrication and Assembly Jeff Medley.

About BraunAbility
The Braun Corporation is the largest manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vans, ramps, and wheelchair lifts worldwide and enables people with physical disabilities the opportunity to regain mobility and lead active and independent lives. The Indiana-based company was founded by Ralph Braun, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at a young age and unable to walk by age 15. Ralph was motivated by his disability to invent the world’s first electric scooter (the Tri-Wheeler) and wheelchair lift (the Lift-A-Way) in his parents’ garage. Word spread and demand for the product increased, resulting in the birth of Save-A-Step Manufacturing, which ultimately became The Braun Corporation. Many of Ralph’s best customers were inspired to become mobility dealers themselves and are located across the country. The company offers the most diverse line of vehicle platforms in the industry, including the Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna. For more information, or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.braunability.com.