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| Joni Eareckson Tada |
| Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is an international advocate for people with disabilities. A diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson, then 17, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands. After two years of rehabilitation, she emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. During her rehabilitation, Joni spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are sought-after and collected. Her best-selling autobiography “Joni“ and the feature film of the same name have been translated into many languages, introducing her to people around the world. She also has visited more than 45 countries. She has served on the National Council on Disability and the Disability Advisory Committee to the U.S. State Department She is Senior Associate for Disability Concerns for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and serves in an advisory capacity to the American Leprosy Mission, the National Institute on Learning Disabilities, Love and Action and Christian Blind Mission International, as well as on the Board of Reference for the Christian Writers Guild and the Christian Medical and Dental Society. I could go on and on listing the many wonderful things Joni has accomplished over the years. But, despite all her accomplishments, I believe what really defines Joni Eareckson Tada is her servant’s heart. She is simply motivated by her desire to honor her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by allowing Him to show the world His love and compassion through her. It is here that she is honored as a truly genuine Big-Hearted Person! |
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