Mobility with dignity can happen for children with physical disAbility when they have the correct wheelchair. FE has been working since 2001 to help children with paralysis by providing wheelchairs in Nicaragua. Working with volunteers in the USA, they have provided more than 2000 WC, trained over 35 young people to adapt and adjust the chairs to the disAbility of each child. The only workshop in Nica to distribute and maintain WC for people with few alternatives to find mobility aids.
In Nicaragua, wheelchairs are hard to find, overpriced, and limited to standard adult chairs. FE has identified 80 children who require specialty chairs fitted and adapted to their disAbility. Without a wheelchair, children are confined to their homes and can not get the therapy they need or any social integration for their development. A specialty chair can help provide mobility for an independent life. A poorly adapted adult standard chair can harm their health and posture.
The wheelchair workshop receives shipments of specialty wheelchairs once a year from Wisconsin Nicaragua Wheel Chair Project. These wheelchairs then need to be adapted and fitted to the disAbility. In addition, FE does outreach to children in need of wheelchairs and works with their measurements and diagnosis to give an appropriate chair. Staff and volunteers learn wheelchair fitting, maintenance, adaptation as they work with therapists to provide mobility to children.
80 Children will have mobility with dignity. Their families will transport them to activities outside the house, including medical visits, using fitted wheelchairs adapted to their disAbility. As a result, health will improve, and they will integrate socially and attend school. In addition, within their own homes, the child will develop more independence which is a fundamental goal for people who have paralysis and other physical disAbilities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
