Delivering Seating and Mobility
to the other 70% of the World
It is estimated that 20 to 40 million people in poor countries are in need of a wheelchair. Only about one in 100 have one. Because of the poverty, the people need access to free or very inexpensive wheelchairs. In order for them to get one, they need to get humanitarian support or must pay less than $100 (USD), since the average annual income is normally well below $1000.
Various Mobility Providers distribute over 1,000 wheelchairs from North America monthly to Third World Countries. Many of these chairs are refurbished from used chairs. Some are purchased & then donated or sold at a nominal fee. There are a few chairs that are manufactured specifically for the Third World.
There is a higher rate of disability per capita, because of lack of nutrition, safety measures, preventative medicine & education. The unique disabilities include: Polio, Arthrogryphosis, Leprosy, Mine Field Victims, etc. The survival rate is normally significantly lower due to poor living conditions. In some countries the survival is almost zero.
Unique Product Needs of the Third World
Function is more important than style. Thus refurbished chairs are great, but more are needed. These chairs should be more durable/ maintenance free than conventional chairs because of the environmental demands. There is a need for more chairs specifically adapted to this population and alternative transportation to wheelchairs needed for outback environments.
Manufacturers, nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, schools, and individuals, etc. donate thousands of wheelchairs annually. This is only a fraction of the chairs that are thrown away. Tens of thousands of wheelchairs end up in land fills annually in the United States because the high cost of parts and labor defeats cost effectiveness of repair.
Those who volunteer to help with this program includes groups such as Seating Specialists, Retired Folks, Youth Groups, Service Organizations, School Groups, Religious Organizations, and other caring people and organizations.
How You Can Help
Your expertise as a seating and mobility specialist is the most valuable commodity. Seating Specialists, Nurses, Doctors, Manufacturers, Rehab Engineers, Teachers, Dealers are all needed. Please don’t throw the chair out, donate it (it’s usually tax deductible). Monetary contributions are also extremely helpful and tax deductible.
The wheelchair industry has gotten behind the refurbishing organizations in donating equipment. These include Sunrise Medical, Invacare, , Mulholland Positioning Systems, Metal Craft, Millers, Otto Bock, Therafin, Frog Legs, Freedom Designs, Theradyne, Varilite, Crown Therapeutic, Dynamic Systems, New Solutions and others.
Uniroyal, Menasha Corp., Freeway Bearing, Diamond Vogel Paint, True Value Hardware, Seattle Filmworks, McDonalds, and many others have helped with monetary and parts donations.
Community Service Workers
South Dakota State Prison has partnered with Hope Haven in having a wheelchair shop in the Prison Industries building at the State Penitentiary.
Donated and discounted Transportation
Werner Trucking, Crete Trucking, Van Wyke, Continental Air Cargo, Northwest cargo, United airlines, Korean Airlines, KLM airlines, USAir Force, Tee Slaa Trucking, Mid West Coast Transportation, AmeriJet, American airlines, Viking, Burkholders, Diamond Vogel have helped by donating or discounting the cost of shipping these chairs to the Third World Countries.
International partners
The list of those in the distribution countries who provide support includes: Rehabilitation hospitals, homes for children with disabilities, Ministries of Health, orphanages, wheelchair sports teams, service organizations, relief & development agencies, missionaries, and other disability support groups
What's in it for You?
When you participate in this program you know you will be helping people & you add to your professional experience learning. You will also get a Warm Fuzzy Feeling from helping others. IT’S FUN and exciting (Where else do you get the chance to work your butt off and often get to pay for your own expenses.)
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