Barry Dean is known to most as a hit songwriter, who has penned some of country music’s biggest hits, including Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” and “Day Drinking,” Tim McGraw’s “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” and more, but his recent achievement has nothing to do with songs or album sales. The Kansas native has launched LUCI, a company with an innovative new form of wheelchair technology, in honor of his 19-year-old daughter, Katherine, who was born with cerebral palsy, and uses a wheelchair.

Barry and his brother, Jered, who serves as the LUCI CTO, were frustrated by how many times Katherine tipped over in her wheelchair, and determined to find a way to keep her –– and others in wheelchairs –– safe.

“Wheelchair users were left behind when it comes to most innovative technology,” Barry said in a press release. “We realized no one else was working on this problem in a meaningful way so my brother Jered and I set out to create a solution for Katherine. What started as a labor of love among family members has ultimately created a safer, more stable way for people with disabilities to navigate their world and stay connected to loved ones.

“Today, we’re excited to launch LUCI and continue collaborating with researchers, universities and other companies using our open platform to move the industry forward together.”

Barry shared a touching video on social media, in honor of Father’s Day, showing Katherine’s life through the years.

“From the moment you were born, you’ve been a treasure to me,” Barry said in the video. “You’ve also been an education. You taught me about courage, and kindness, but also how unfair the world can be to some people. You deserved something that would let you move freely through this life, without fear, but it didn’t exist. So we set out to make it for you. I always said that I’d do anything for my daughter. This is my anything.”

Barry also asked that others would help share the news about LUCI.

 

“I have a huge favor to ask,” the songwriter wrote. “If it’s not too much trouble, would you help us get the word out? We want as many wheelchair riders, caregivers and clinicians as possible to know we are working to make the world safer, more inclusive and better connected. I am so very grateful to everyone for your kind encouragement about LUCI.

“The whole team thanks you – and it IS a team, of wonderful people all over the country – engineers, clinicians, designers, programmers, partners and allies,” he continued. “We appreciate your support today and every day, and we look forward to sharing our journey with you.”

For two and a half years, Barry and Jered met with clinical professionals and spent more than 25,000 hours testing various models, trying to find the best way for those with disabilities to drive “safely, precisely and independently.”

“When we started tinkering with my niece Katherine’s chair, we had no idea where this journey would lead,” said Jered Dean, who has spent the past 20 years working in design and systems engineering. “From developing advancements in millimeter-wave radar technology to collaborating with engineering leaders from Intel® RealSense™ Technology Group to maximize the application of some of the world’s smartest cameras, I’m incredibly proud of the unprecedented work our team has accomplished to solve the challenges our customers face.”

For more information, visit LUCI.com.