Our Dear Friend, Joni

Joni Eareckson Tada is an esteemed Christian stateswoman and respected global disability advocate. Her story began when a 1967 diving accident left her a quadriplegic. She emerged from rehabilitation with a determination to help others with disabilities. She serves as the CEO of Joni and Friends, a Christian organization which provides programs and services for thousands of special needs families around the world. In 2022, Joni celebrated 40 years on the air with her daily radio broadcast, which offers encouragement to those who suffer and are living with a handicap. President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the National Council on Disability, and she was reappointed by President George H.W. Bush. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed and signed into law during her tenure on the council. Joni is the author of many books, including Joni, which tells her unforgettable story, along with Where’s My Miracle?, Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty, and Glorious Intruder: God’s Presence in Life’s Chaos. She is also an accomplished artist and served as general editor of the Beyond Suffering Bible, a special edition published by Tyndale for people with disabilities. Joni and her husband, Ken, reside in Calabasas, California.