Tucker's Story

Tucker Haas is an 11-year-old Leader in Action from Charlotte, NC with plans to make a difference in the world.

Tucker invented My Personal Swing Thing, a device that transforms a regular swing into a supportive adaptive swing for children who have physical disabilities and are not able to play on regular swings. He used bubble wrap to create adjustable padding in the swing and entered his invention into the Bubble Wrap Brand Competition for Young Inventors. He won the grand prize of $10,000 and has even been approached by companies that want to help make the swing in mass. What makes Tucker stand out is his inspiration.

Tucker’s younger sister Lexi developed a medical condition as a baby called Kernicterus, a physical disorder similar to Cerebral Palsy. The disorder left Lexi unable to fully control her muscles. At a young age Tucker realized that his sister was not able to play like the other kids and he wanted to change that.

“For six years we have gone to the park with Lexi and there is almost nothing she can do there. My mom holds her on her lap to swing, but that is unsafe and uncomfortable” said Tucker in his submission letter to the Bubble Wrap Brand Competition for Young Inventors. It was his determination to give Lexi a chance for normalcy that inspired him to create My Personal Swing Thing. It took nearly four months of planning, construction and testing to develop the swing, but now when Lexi goes to the park she can play like the other kids and enjoys every minute. For Tucker, winning the Young Inventor competition would be secondary; “The day I put my little sister in My Personal Swing Thing for the first time was one of the proudest moments of my life.” Now Tucker’s goal is to make the My Personal Swing Thing available to families around the world.

Tucker is not the only member of his family to make a difference in the lives of others. The entire Haas family has rallied around the adversity they face and use it as a tool to help others in the community. They bring hope to situations that would otherwise have none.

Hannah, age 14, entered the Bubble Wrap Brand Competition for Young Inventors last year and won first place for her sensory wallpaper invention. The wallpaper is a useful therapy tool for children with movement disorders and other disabilities and has played an important role in the development of muscle function.

Kasey, age 18, is the founder of Lexi’s Voice. LEXI'S VOICE is a foundation that helps children with communication disabilities interact with the world. Lexi’s Voice puts on fun events like bowling and a day at the amusement park for disabled children. It pairs each child with a teenager who hangs out and gets to know them. It’s a great experience that provides a sense of normalcy for kids who might not otherwise participate in those activities and it gives a great education in diversity and acceptance to the teenagers involved. MORE ABOUT LEXI'S VOICE

More than 8,000 children are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy each year; thousands more suffer from other movement disorders. With your help we can make a difference.