BraunAbility & Sam Schmidt: An Inspiring Partnership
BraunAbility is known as the “world’s most trusted name in mobility.” For more than 40 years, the company has grown under the tutelage of founder, Ralph Braun. By the age of 15, Braun was unable to walk due to spinal muscular atrophy. He became determined to develop a more independent way of getting around besides using a manual wheelchair and being helped in and out of vehicles. This led to his invention of the world’s first electric scooter and first wheelchair lift and steering controls. For the first time, Mr. Braun was able to drive himself and not depend on others. This was the start of a transformative company, one that would dramatically increase the level of independence for wheelchair users.
In 2000, Indy race car driver Sam Schmidt was in a life-changing accident at the Walt Disney World Speedway. A serious crash rendered him a quadriplegic and he spent five months on a respirator. During his recovery Sam began using BraunAbility vehicles, and developed a friendship with Ralph Braun. When Braun stepped down from his position as BraunAbility’s CEO, Sam was among a group of investors who purchased the company.
The company remains in the forefront of the industry and since Ralph’s passing in 2013, it has honored his legacy by continuing to provide high-quality vehicles, lifts, and mobility systems for wheelchair users. Lincoln Tech is proud to be a BraunAbility training partner, and to help BraunAbility’s team of automotive technicians enhance their skills for repairing vehicle air conditioning systems.
Lincoln Tech and BraunAbility
Lincoln Tech is a leading national provider of hands-on training in areas such as skilled trades and automotive technology, and offers programs not only to individuals looking for new career paths but also to employers who want to build the skills of their current teams. Lincoln’s partnership with BraunAbility solidifies their long-standing reputation while reinforcing the belief that education does not end once you graduate from school!
Technicians need to remain up-to-date on all developing technologies within their field to continue their professional growth. Lincoln Tech recognizes this demand and meets it by partnering with businesses like BraunAbility, based in Indiana. BraunAbility, and companies like it, can send their technicians to Lincoln Tech’s Indianapolis campus where they receive hands-on training by skilled instructors. In addition, BraunAbility can turn to Lincoln Tech for candidates when they need to hire new automotive technicians, welders and more.
Lincoln Tech has customized programs for employers in fields like automotive, healthcare, green technology, computerized manufacturing, air conditioning systems and more. Each training partnership curriculum is tailored to the needs and specifications of the employer; there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to addressing each individual partner’s needs! The end result is a higher level of training for critical skills in the technicians’ existing jobs – leading to more productive workforces for the employers!