Is there anything you can tell me about Jean-Luc Butel, president and
CEO of Independence Technology.  I need something to put in a short
bio about his business or intellectual acumen.

Hi leaventhal,

Jean-Luc Butel's interest is mainly with helping people with
disablities live lives of freedom.  I've provided some links to
articles that expand on this for you.

"Several years ago the idea of a wheelchair that was designed to do a
number of unique things was presented to Johnson & Johnson. Then, when
we started to look at the market for this product, we saw many areas
where we thought technology could be applied to products for people
with a range of disabilities. Our company, Independence Technology,
was created by Johnson & Johnson to do this."

From: A Letter From Our President  (Along with a photo of Jean-Luc
Butel on the left side of the page.)
http://www.indetech.com/aboutourcompany/ourpeople.html


For people who are confined to a wheelchair: 

"The IBOT is the culmination of Dean's three-decade effort to enhance
the lifestyles of people with disabilities," said Jean-Luc Butel, CEO
at Independence Technology. "He is passionately committed to using
technology and ingenuity to help solve society's ills."

DEAN KAMEN
2002 WINNER OF THE $500,000 LEMELSON-MIT PRIZE FOR INVENTION AND
INNOVATION
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/kamen_bio.html



"The iBOT's price is less than some top-of-the-line models for the
severely impaired, but far more than basic chairs. But Independence
Technology president Jean-Luc Butel said the average cost for ramps,
elevators and other home modifications for someone unable to walk is
$40,000, expenditures largely unnecessary with the iBOT. He is
negotiating with Medicare and other insurers to pay for the iBOT."

FDA Backs Stair-Climbing Wheelchair
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_10507.html


And The Pathways to Independence Program:

"The new initiative, The Pathways to Independence Program: Sponsored
by Johnson & Johnson in partnership with Easter Seals, is designed to
highlight innovative programs created and managed by Easter Seals
affiliates. The program guidelines, currently being developed, will
invite successful Easter Seals programs from around the United States
to apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. A national
advisory board will select the grant recipients.

We are looking forward to working with Easter Seals on this important
program, said Jean-Luc Butel, president of Independence Technology, a
Johnson & Johnson company. Easter Seals’ extensive reach into all
parts of the United States will help us to identify model programs
that are helping people with disabilities live their lives with
greater freedom."

Easter Seals and Johnson & Johnson Announce Partnership
http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20020308_1051.htm


(Plus for your enjoyment you might want to link to this site for a
very interesting article along with many photos of the IBOT Wheelchair
being used:)

John Williamson's
Now this is an electric powerchair that I will buy with my own money!
http://www.dynopower.freeserve.co.uk/homepages/ibot3000.htm


Google search terms:  "John-Luc Butel" "CEO Indpendence Technology"  
"disabilities" "IBOT"  "Easter Seals"

Regards,

tlspiegel
Google Answers Researcher