Joel Vander Molen

Joel Vander Molen is a disability awareness speaker, web developer, and substitute preacher living in Iowa. At just three-years-old, Joel was involved in a motor vehicle accident and received a high-level spinal cord injury. Unable to breathe independently, feel or control anything below his shoulders, Joel had a challenging life ahead. Through a loving family, multiple caregivers, and a strong faith in God’s plan, these challenges never stopped him. Going through grade school, junior high, and high school, Joel went on to college, even living independently in his own dorm room. In 38 years as a quadriplegic, life wasn’t always easy and circumstances sometimes resulted in poor judgments. However, he learned to look to God first with whatever came and continues to do so while living the quad life.