Ever since he was young, Joshua had a talent for mechanical work. After graduating from high school, Joshua soon found work at a local elevator repair company and he quickly mastered the trade and excelled in his job.

One day, after five and a half years on the job, a dumbwaiter suddenly fell on him, dropping over 700 pounds onto his back. Although he was not in a lot of pain, he knew that something was very wrong, as he lost feeling in his legs.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed Joshua's initial fears - he had suffered a total spinal injury and would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

While he has been aided by workers' compensation, his disability had a significant impact on his family. After the accident, his mother temporarily left work to take care of Joshua, lowering the family's income during a time in which medical expenses were piling up. Three years later, through tremendous determination, rehabilitation and a positive spirit, Joshua is able to get around on his own.

Looking back on the accident, Joshua says, "you never know from one day to the next what will happen." He continues, "Being in my twenties at the time of the accident, protecting myself from disability was not on my mind. Protecting yourself from a disability should be on everyone's mind, regardless of age."

Plan ahead to help protect yourself in the event of an accident or injury.

To protect the privacy of those impacted by a disability, only first names are used and the photo is not of the actual individual profiled.