Past Newsletters (Archive)

D4D Newsletter - August 2025

Devices 4 the Disabled

August 1, 2025

Greetings D4D Community

As summer draws to a close, we look ahead with purpose and possibility. At D4D, we’re expanding access to mobility equipment, strengthening our community, and creating more opportunities for the people we serve. This month, we celebrate the people who make our mission possible—the lives transformed by mobility equipment, visionary leaders, and a compassionate cycle of support that changes one life at a time.

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A Wife's Hope: Caring for Her Husband at Home

When Juan suffered multiple strokes, life for his family changed dramatically. Daily routines became hospital visits, and his wife, Sara, faced the ongoing reality of long-term care—how to keep him safe, comfortable, and part of daily life. After receiving a hospital bed when he first returned home, she realized he also needed a way to get out of bed. At Devices 4 the Disabled, she received a tilt-in-space wheelchair and guidance on its use, giving her the confidence to continue caring for Juan at home with dignity and independence.

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Welcome Our New Board Members

Devices 4 the Disabled is proud to welcome four new leaders to our Board of Directors. Our board plays a critical role in guiding the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring strong governance, and amplifying our impact for people living with disabilities who rely on the equipment and services provided through D4D. Each new member brings a unique blend of expertise, lived experience, and a shared commitment to our mission, helping position D4D for even greater strategic growth and impact in the years ahead.

More About D4D's Board of Directors & Leadership Team

Nooshin Shahlari Bowman

Nooshin Shahlari Bowman leads with purpose, drawing on her background in biomedical and chemical engineering, management consulting, and nonprofit governance. As a Senior Consultant at Deloitte and recent MBA graduate from the Kellogg School of Management, she drives strategic growth initiatives in the medical device sector and champions pro bono engagement nationwide. During her Kellogg Board Fellowship, she partnered with D4D on an award-winning project. Now, as Board Chair, Nooshin is shaping D4D’s vision for national growth and broader impact.

Ed Wehmer

Ed Wehmer co-founded Wintrust Financial Corporation and, as President & CEO, grew it from a single community bank into one of the nation’s top 30 commercial banks. Ed has held leadership roles with Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and the Archdiocese of Chicago, and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the Commercial Club. Now, as D4D’s Vice Chair, Ed brings his strategic leadership and experience in building mission-driven institutions to help expand our reach and impact.

Maria Silva

Maria Silva brings resilience, compassion, and lived experience to the D4D Board. After emigrating from Mexico at age 12, she built a life in Chicago rooted in strength and service. For more than 20 years, Maria has led as Warehouse Supervisor at Hinda Incentives, where colleagues value her work ethic and leadership. Her connection to D4D is deeply personal: in 2018 her son Miguel became quadriplegic after gun violence, and she cared for him with extraordinary dedication until his passing in 2025. Maria now channels her perspective as a caregiver, advocate, and mother to advance dignity, independence, and opportunity for families like hers.

Janeen Bolden-Born

Janeen Bolden-Born brings nearly two decades of clinical expertise as a board-certified neurological physical therapist. She serves as adjunct faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Governors State University, where she connects students to D4D’s mission through hands-on learning about real-world mobility challenges. Janeen is also pursuing a Doctor of Health Sciences degree with dual certification in health professions education. Her clinical expertise, leadership in healthcare, passion for mentorship, and dedication to equitable access strengthen D4D’s impact, helping individuals who rely on mobility equipment live with greater dignity and independence.

Volunteer Spotlight

Making a Difference: Lainey's Summer with D4D

This summer, Devices 4 the Disabled had the privilege of welcoming Lainey to our team. She reached out to D4D as she explored ways to make a positive impact over her summer break from college. A physics major and natural problem-solver, Lainey brought curiosity, creativity, and heart to every task—from creating spreadsheets that improved operations and refurbishing equipment with care and skill, to developing helpful tools, supporting special projects across the organization, and sharing her lived experience.

As she returns to school to begin her junior year, we are deeply grateful for the time, talent, and heart she shared with D4D and the people we serve. Thank you, Lainey!

Lainey working on special projects at D4D

D4D Receives Community Champion Award

Devices 4 the Disabled is honored to be recognized by the Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) with the 2025 Community Champion Award at events celebrating disability pride and the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)!

This award reflects the heart of our mission—to increase access, mobility, and independence for people with disabilities across Chicago. We’re proud to stand alongside other incredible organizations advancing accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment throughout our city.

#ADA35 #DisabilityInclusion #AccessForAll #CommunityChampion #MobilityMatters #MOPD #D4D

Samuel's Story: Regaining Freedom and Confidence with the Power of 4

Samuel relies on his wheelchair every day, so much so that his chair became worn down—the seat sagging, the frame unsteady, and no longer safe or supportive. What should have been a tool for freedom instead created limitations, making daily life harder.

When he received a wheelchair through Devices 4 the Disabled, that changed. Fitted for a chair by our staff, Samuel sat taller, proud, and confident. He spun with joy, experiencing the Power of 4: Mobility, Independence, Freedom, and Dignity. Each turn of the wheels now gives Samuel the support and confidence he needs to stay active, handle daily tasks, and enjoy time with his wife. With a wheelchair that works for him, he can move safely and independently—living life on his own terms.

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