donald j. dalton November 2009 was a sad month for the Laurus Foundation, the friends, and family of a remarkable man, Don Dalton. Don and his company, Assistive Technologies, Inc, was our very first Partner in Progress. We began our relationship with Don in the hope of fulfilling a life-long dream of Don’s to bring independence and fulfillment to the lives of individuals with disabilities.

He called this dream, Independence One — an advanced Electronic Aid to Daily Living (EADL) system. Otherwise known as an Environmental Control System, I-One allows the user complete control - by voice, touch screen, or mouse - of all the peripheral equipment typically installed in a home, dorm room, hospital, rehab facility, or workplace. To read more about our partnership with Don, click here.

But, Don Dalton was more than just an expert on assistive technologies. He was an inspiration to everyone who ever met him. Some in the Laurus Foundation family had the privilege of meeting Don last summer at our golf outing. It was the 40th anniversary of his diving accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down and relegated to a wheel chair until his death on November 2.

I had the honor of knowing Don for just a few short years. In that brief time, I came to know a man with more courage and more compassion for others than anyone I have ever met. His energy and determination were infectious, so much so, that you instantly saw the enormous heart of this man and soon forgot about any so-called disability. He will be sorely missed as partner, mentor, and good friend.

God bless Don Dalton.