Thomas Quiter and Respect America President Hannah Henriksen are available for interviews.

SACRAMENTO, CA – October 13, 2026 – Power wheelchair users can face lengthy delays and limited repair options when their equipment breaks, a problem disability advocate Thomas Quiter knows firsthand.

Quiter, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta and relies on a power wheelchair for mobility, says inadequate equipment once left him effectively bedridden for five years. After 27 years advocating for people with disabilities, he founded the Mobility Independence Foundation to develop and share open-source mobility equipment designed to be durable, adaptable and simple enough to build or repair locally. His work is the subject of a new five-minute film from Respect America, set for release October 16.

“It’s like a trip to McDonald’s. The ice cream machine is always broken, right? That’s because only one company can fix it. Imagine that, but it’s your necessary medical device instead of soft serve,” Quiter says in the film.

The film is being released during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, whose 2026 theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” Quiter argues that reliable mobility equipment affects far more than transportation: when essential equipment fails, wheelchair users can lose access to work, independence and community life.

“Thomas is asking a simple question: if it is your property and your body, why isn’t the repair your decision?” said Hannah Henriksen, president of Respect America. “His story shows what the Philosophy of Human Respect looks like in practice: trust people to understand their own needs, give them the freedom to solve their own problems, and respect the choices they make for their own lives. That makes everyone happier in the end.”

Watch: private preview link
Public release: October 16

Media availability: Thomas Quiter is available to discuss wheelchair repair barriers, his own experience and the Mobility Independence Foundation’s open-source designs. Respect America President Hannah Henriksen is available to discuss why Respect America chose to tell Quiter’s story and its connection to the Philosophy of Human Respect.