Inspiration for the FDR Center

The FDR Center for Prosthetic and Orthotics was inspired by the struggle of the thirty-second president of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR was diagnosed with the crippling disease, polio, at the age of 39. He concealed his disability so well that millions of Americans never knew he was a paraplegic in a wheelchair during his presidency. At the same time, he used the power of his office and his personality to fight against polio and make it a national cause. FDR played an important role in changing the history of polio in America and created the "March of Dimes" campaign to raise money for polio research in 1937. When the Salk vaccine was released in 1955, the "March of Dimes" had already raised $25.5 million for the cause. He did not live to see the effects of the vaccine, but he lived with the perception that polio could be conquered. Franklin Roosevelt was an inspiration to millions who lived with disabilities and his memory still lives on. Here at the FDR Center for Prosthetic and Orthotics, we admire FDR's struggle and hope that using his name will remind people you can still live an extraordinary life with a disability.