Wheelchair play a vital role in restoring independence and freedom of movement for many people. They empower individuals with mobility challenges to live with dignity, stay connected to their communities, and access daily essentials. Beyond improving physical comfort, wheelchairs open doors to education, employment, social activities, and healthcare-helping users maintain an active, engaged life while protecting their overall well-being.
For many people, an appropriately designed wheelchair can be the first step toward returning to family and social participation.
Article 20 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states:”States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have the greatest possible independence in personal mobility.”
Then, statistics show that less than 5% of people have access to a “suitable wheelchair”.
What is a “suitable wheelchair”?
- Meet user needs
- Suitable for the user’s usage environment
- Size that matches the user
- Help users maintain correct sitting posture
- Local maintenance and repairs possible
Different needs
- Different users groups(children, adults, elderly)
- Different functional impairment(paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiplegia)
- Different lifestyles, roles, and backgrounds
- Different living environments(rural, urban, city)
What are the benefits of a suitable wheelchair?
- Mobility
Wheelchairs help people move as independently as possible, going where they want to go and doing what they want to do.
- Healthy
Wheelchairs can improve the health of their users in many ways. For example, a well-fitting wheelchair with a cushioned seat can significantly reduce the risk of pressure sores. A wheelchair that works well, fits well and can be pushed easily can improve the user’s health by extending their range of motion and increasing their amount of exercise.
- Independence
Wheelchair users can gain more independence and control over their lives.
- Self-esteem and confidence
Wheelchair users will feel more confident when they have a wheelchair that fits them wekk and that they can operate easily.
- Return to society
With a wheelchair, the user can participate more in community life, for example, going to work or school, visiting friends, attending church or other community events.
Steps to wheelchair fitting
Evaluate
Choose
Assembly and debugging
Try out
Training
Maintenance and repair
Post time: May-14-2025