ABOUT

We give people the tools needed to live the life they want to live.

Since Devices 4 the Disabled (D4D) was founded in 2015, we have seen countless examples of people whose lives have been drastically altered because of a disability and a lack of access to proper medical equipment. We work hard to make sure that lack of equipment doesn’t get in the way of people living their lives.

We refurbish used medical equipment that otherwise would end up in landfills. We provide it for free to those who need it most: those without insurance, who are underinsured or lack the finances to purchase the equipment they desperately need.

OUR STORY

D4D co-founder Ed Kane said about medical equipment that “When you need it…you NEED IT, and when you get it, your whole life opens up.” This awareness came to Ed disguised as a disease. Ed was married with four children, vice-president of a bank and a former rugby player. In 2011 he received the news that no one wants to hear. Ed was diagnosed with the debilitating disease ALS.

As the disease progressed, Ed required a complex wheelchair, with a price tag of $30,000. He was shocked to discover that his insurance would cover only $2,500. He used his 401K to cover the cost. Ed wondered what happens to people without savings?

Ed and Bob Shea, a friend who also was diagnosed with a neurological disease, wanted to find out how a person could get equipment they could not afford. They discovered that in Chicago there was only one small lending locker for medical equipment. Ed and Bob knew first hand the enormous need for this equipment. They knew they needed to meet this need.

And so, D4D was born.

More of our story:

THE 4 IN D4D

When you see pictures of people who have been helped by D4D holding four fingers in the air, they are embodying the four tenets our organization was built on: independence, mobility, dignity and freedom.

mobility

Not being able to move about shrinks a person’s world to a tiny bubble. We provide used mobility equipment, such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs to enable people to expand their world and move through it securely.

independence

Access to medical equipment gives people the ability to participate in activities of daily living without having to rely on other people.

freedom

Being mobile and independent brings the freedom to set one’s own course in life and engage in activities that so many of us take for granted.

dignity

All people deserve the right to pursue their own dreams and be treated with dignity and respect.

OUR FOUNDERS

Ed Kane founded Devices 4 the Disabled in 2015. He succumbed to complications of ALS in September 2016. We continue in his spirit and we honor his memory, and he continues to inspire us.

Bob Shea is Co-Founder of D4D. In 2002, he was stricken with Guillian-Barre Syndrome and rendered a quadriplegic. He eventually recovered and is now devoted to helping others deal with illness and disability.

OUR LEADERSHIP

Jessica Corbus, PT, DPT, MOL was the founding program director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kankakee Community College and more recently served as a Senior University Lecturer in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Governors State University. She is passionate about volunteerism and served as co-secretary on the Board of Directors for Options Center for Independent Living for Kankakee and Iroquois counties for nine years.

Robbie Kuchler O’Shea PT, DPT, PhD, HConductor recently retired from a long career of teaching at the Governors State University PT program. Robbie began her career at LaRabida Children’s Hospital. Over the course of her career she has worked in hospital, school, and early intervention settings. While teaching full time, she maintained a clinical practice working with 0–3-year-olds and their families. She has authored several textbooks, textbook chapters and articles. Robbie currently sits on the Board of Directors at the Center for Independence.

Emiliano Rojas is native to Mexico City. He moved to Chicago in 2001, attended NEIU for graphic design and has a background in IT. He is excited to expand his knowledge as a Medical Wheelchair and Scooter Technician to support D4D’s growing community.

OUR BOARD

Yolande Wilson-Stubbs is President and Chief Post-Acute Care Officer at Ascension Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines, IL. She has over 20 years experience in hospital leadership.

Concepcion Favela is a clinic nurse for ACCESS which has 35 health centers throughout Chicagoland. She is a member of professional and service organizations. Connie has dedicated her career to working for health care nonprofits where she has served in a variety of leadership positions. She has won numerous awards for her work, both in this country and in service to the disadvantaged of her birth state – Durango, Mexico.

Dr. Robin Washington, PT, PhD, CRC, brings over 30 years of expertise in physical therapy, education, and patient-centered care. Dr. Washington holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Vermont (1991), a Master of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma (1996), and a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2005).

As a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Dr. Washington is dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, offering specialized counseling and customized rehabilitation strategies that promote greater independence and quality of life. Her extensive experience and commitment to best practices in clinical care make her a valuable addition to the organization and mission to serve underserved communities.

Brad Edwards is the primary anchor and an investigative reporter, leading CBS News Chicago. Edwards’ work has netted more than 100 awards. That includes a national Edward R. Murrow award, eleven regional Edward R. Murrow awards, and more than two dozen regional Emmy Awards.

Joel Heifitz is co-founder and CEO of Chicago-based Concept Laboratories, which conducts cutting-edge product development of high-quality beauty, pain relief, and household products.

Kyle Dillon is an attorney with McFadden & Dillon, P.C. where he provides general representation for small businesses, families, and individuals. He received a B.A. from Marquette University in 2008 and a J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2016. He resides in Wildwood, Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

David C Vaughan has been an Adaptive Technology Professional since 2006 and has worked in the home health care industry since 1992. In 2007 he came to National Seating and Mobility as an ATP/ Branch manager and brought the branch from bottom five in revenue to the top five in just two years. He works exclusively with Marian Joy Rehab, Northwestern and Shirley Ryan Abilities lab.

OUR ADVISORY BOARD

Thomas McCabe is Vice President/ Operations for Smith LaSalle Civil Engineers in Franklin Park and serves as the Village Engineer. Tom has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 35 years and started his current council. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he had officiated college football in the MidAmerican Conference for 15 years and he now uses that experience to officiate in the US Wheelchair Football League.

Ron Friedman brings 30+ years successful leadership in Information Technology, including collaborative roles in private, public, and non-profit organizations, most recently with the non-profit Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, the third-largest holocaust museum in the world. He also brings a broad background in small business administration, marketing, customer service operations, public relations, finance and logistics to the table. He has been a volunteer with D4D since 2022.