Joni Eareckson Tada an inspiration to many

By Stephanie Bertholdo
bertholdo@theacorn.com

MOTIVATED--Joni Eareckson Tada paints a Christmas picture by holding the paintbrush in her mouth. Tada has been an inspiration to people with disabilities throughout the world, having overseen the renovation and distribution of more 14,000 wheelchairs worldwide. An author, singer, public speaker and founder of Joni and Friends, a Christian foundation focused on the needs of people with disabilities, Tada's latest venture is the International Disability Center that's coming to Agoura Hills.

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Joni Eareckson Tada is an inspiration.

Joni (pronounced Johnny) is founder and president of Joni and Friends, a Christian outreach organization that focuses its ministries on people with disabilities. Her foundation operates Wheels for the World, which renovates wheelchairs from the United States and donates them to people around the world who otherwise could not afford one. All told, Joni’s foundation has distributed about 14,000 wheelchairs to people in 53 developing countries. Wheels for the World is one of four programs designed by the organization to help disabled people and their families use their disability to connect with God.

A tireless advocate, Joni inspires people with disabilities to move beyond the limitations of their bodies and tap into a God-given inner resolve that she believes has the power to transform weakness into strength, vulnerability into purpose. She should know. Permanently paralyzed from a diving accident in 1967, Joni is a passionate, uplifting leader despite quadriplegia—or perhaps because of the injuries she sustained so long ago. Joni believes that God’s plan included suffering, soul-searching and introspection and eventually the reason and purpose to her life. A favorite Bible quote encapsulates her philosophy: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Model of International Disability Center coming to Agoura Hills

Joni said that she was "saved" two years prior to her accident at age 17. While attending a weekend retreat, she discovered the difference between Christianity as a religion and having a daily connection with God. "I was always pretty casual about God," Joni said. "The idea about having a relationship with God was incredible." She explained that when the speaker at the retreat discussed the Ten Commandments, she took stock of her life.

"I saw that I was falling short," Joni said. Eventually, she understood why Jesus Christ was central to her faith. "He was bearing the penalty of my own disobedience and sin," she said."

Two and one-half years later, Joni dove into a shallow lake and landed in a hospital unable to move. Despondent and not certain what her life would be like without the use of her limbs, Joni grew angry. Devoted friends visited her in the hospital, played the guitar and snuck in pizza. "They kept me connected to reality because of their love," she said. The Bible verse "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians, 6:2) sums up Joni’s feelings. "Those friends showcased to me what Christian love was all about," Joni said.

A renowned "mouth artist," Joni’s work has been exhibited in cities across the nation. She said that her father was an artist, and she had always enjoyed doodling. "In high school I would draw a senior picture for $5," she said. After the accident, she thought the creation of art would be forever lost. "But then my occupational therapist encouraged me to pick up that brush between my teeth," she said. "I always thought that my talent resided in my wrist."

Although it takes Joni about eight months to complete a picture, she said that she finds tremendous joy working at her easel. "(I am happy) when I’m at my art easel, and it’s quiet and classical music is on, and the canvas isn’t resisting me, and my brushes are obedient," she said.

Joni’s highly detailed artwork was featured on "The Today Show" in 1974, which led her to write her autobiography, "Joni," in 1976. She launched her ministry in 1979, the same year World Wide Pictures released the feature film "Joni," in which she portrayed herself. She never slows down—in all she’s authored 30 books. In 1982, she married Ken Tada, a teacher, who’s now retired and works with Joni in the foundation.

Joni is the voice of hope and encouragement to over 1 million listeners every week on a radio program broadcast throughout the country. The daily five-minute inspirational program earned the "Radio Program of the Year" award in 2002 from the National Religious Broadcasters. She’s also an acclaimed singer, columnist and sought-after public speaker. Joni’s advocacy work led to a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disability. During her tenure on the council, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

Closer to home, Joni and Friends recently broke ground on the International Disability Center, slated to open in 2006 on Ladyface Circle next to the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills. The center will offer resources to disabled people and address problems that people with disabilities face on a daily basis, aiming to remedy the high rate of abuse, suicide, drug abuse, divorce and other problems faced by people with disabilities.

The center will also tackle public policy issues from the Christian perspective. Joni noted that the most pressing issue is a physician-assisted suicide bill that’s currently being introduced into the state Assembly. "We don’t want to see that pass," she said. "We think that’s bad news for people with disabilities. Compassion is not three grams of Phenobarbital in your veins." She explained that she wanted to kill herself at one time, but her problem was depression, not her disability.

"We are not released from the presence of sin; we live in a fallen world, (I live in a) fallen body," she said. She added that daily choices are critical. "Some are good, obedient to God, some are willful disobedience," she said "It’s part of what it means to be human, this whole thing called sin."