Michael Haddad is a UNDP Arab States Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Action, an endurance athlete holding three record-breaking athletic feats, an experienced entrepreneur, and a motivational speaker.
Driven by his achievements in life, Michael’s story has been recognized by organizations, governments, corporations, and educational institutions all over the world for his resilience and inspiring spirit.
Following a Jet Ski accident at the age of six, Michael was subject to a spinal cord injury that left 75% of his body completely paralyzed from the chest down.
Through his perseverance, determination, and belief in science, Michael was able to defy his paralysis and walk upright by adopting a unique walking pattern, similar to a Swing Through Gait pattern (SWG) using the support of an orthotic exoskeleton. This external power source supports his lower body by supplementing and producing movement.
In Michael's case, walking was considered to be a medical impossibility. Turning it into a reality was a painful and challenging journey, only made possible with the development of assistive technologies and with Michael's unrelenting willpower.
Through his perseverance, determination, and belief in science, Michael was able to defy his paralysis and walk upright by adopting a unique walking pattern, similar to a Swing Through Gait pattern (SWG) using the support of an orthotic exoskeleton. This external power source supports his lower body by supplementing and producing movement.
In Michael's case, walking was considered to be a medical impossibility. Turning it into a reality was a painful and challenging journey, only made possible with the development of assistive technologies and with Michael's unrelenting willpower.
Michael’s unique mental and physical capabilities intrigued the world of science and technology. They inspired multi-disciplinary scientific and medical teams from the Faculty of Engineering at the Lebanese American University and the American University of Beirut. They were joined by international physiotherapists, sports medicine specialists, and engineers interested in exploring his performances and developing studies about neuro-modulation.
Michael’s entrepreneurial curiosity and athletic durability induced him and his scientific and medical team to persistently improve exoskeleton technology, study the neuroplasticity of his brain, and develop other technological advancements to benefit persons with similar injuries and help them overcome their disability.
Michael’s entrepreneurial curiosity and athletic durability induced him and his scientific and medical team to persistently improve exoskeleton technology, study the neuroplasticity of his brain, and develop other technological advancements to benefit persons with similar injuries and help them overcome their disability.
Serving as a Regional (Arab States) Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Michael has been preparing for his toughest challenge and most outstanding achievement yet---walking 100Km across the Arctic--- to highlight the need and urgency for climate action. While the Arctic Walk was shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael was involved in the “Stepping Ahead of COVID – SAC” initiative (Beirut Walk for Inclusion, Egypt Walk for Inclusion). This program followed a redirection of the initial preparation energy and served to underscore the need to make UNDP-led responses to the COVID pandemic inclusive of persons with disability (PwD), ensuring they are not left behind.
Michael believes that an essential part of life is about giving back to humanity, to the future, to earth, to upcoming generations, and this is the purpose of Michael Haddad's journey; to promote social development and sustainability.
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DISABILITY IS ONLY A STATE OF MIND