SEBCM Impact Series: Kai Luan

SEBCM Impact Series: Kai Luan

Kai Luan: Championing Mobility, Community, and Access

In Chicago, 29-year-old lawyer, paracyclist, community leader, and advocate Kai Luan is showing what’s possible when mobility meets equity. Kai’s journey as an amputee began at age 17 after a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Before that, he was a junior national martial arts champion and a dedicated high school cross-country and track athlete—movement was central to his identity.

“After I got my first prosthetic, I quickly realized that standard prosthetic feet weren’t built for the level of activity I was used to,” Kai remembers. “I broke my first foot… and then several more, whether playing soccer, cycling, rock climbing, or longboarding.”

But where barriers arose, Kai got creative—working with his prosthetist to modify old prosthetic components into sport-specific legs, even experimenting with 3D printing to stay active. These improvised solutions kept him going, but they were far from ideal.

A New Era of Access

When the So Every BODY Can Move legislation was passed in Illinois, everything changed. Activity-specific prosthetic devices, like running blades, became accessible through insurance for the first time.

“The impact was almost immediate,” Kai says. “By February, I had my running blade in hand—and for the first time in over a decade, I could run again.”

This wasn’t just about fitness. For Kai, it marked a return to himself—a reconnection with a part of his identity he hadn’t been able to fully express since amputation.

Indigo Cycling: Building a More Inclusive Community

Beyond his personal athletic pursuits, Kai is making a lasting impact on the broader cycling community. As founder and leader of Indigo Cycling, he is actively building a space where everyone can thrive.

“Our mission as a team is to create a competitive road and gravel cycling team of friends and upstanding members of the Chicago cycling community. To us, cycling is not just about chasing records or striving for podium finishes—it’s about camaraderie, shared stories, and joy. We firmly believe everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, should feel welcomed and valued.”

Through the Indigo Cycling Race Grant, the team provides financial support to BIPOC, FTW (femme/trans/women), and paracyclists—breaking down economic barriers that too often limit participation. Indigo also hosts educational panels, mentorship programs, practice races, and group rides to integrate new riders into the sport.

Kai doesn’t just talk about inclusion—he lives it. As an active paracyclist in both road and gravel disciplines, he’s expanding what representation looks like in competitive cycling.

And now, thanks to his new running blade, Kai is pursuing a new dream: para-triathlon.

Inspiration and Advocacy

Kai’s message to others advocating for access in their own states is clear and powerful:

“Movement is one of the most powerful tools for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Activity-specific prosthetics restore freedom, dignity, and joy to amputees. These devices aren’t a luxury—they’re essential.”

Looking Ahead

Kai envisions a future where insurance systems nationwide recognize activity-specific prosthetics as essential care—where no amputee has to settle for less simply because their prosthetic wasn’t deemed “medically necessary.”

His journey embodies what So Every BODY Can Move is all about: restoring access, ensuring dignity, and empowering every body to move—and thrive.