MOBILITY & INDEPENDENCE
Wheelchair provision is not only about the wheelchair, which is just a product. Rather, it is about enabling people with disabilities to become mobile, remain healthy and participate fully in community life. A wheelchair is the catalyst to increased independence and social integration…(*)
* (from Guidelines on the provision of Manual Wheelchairs in less resourced settings- World Health Organization 2008).
It is estimated that about 1% of the total population or 10% of the disabled population need wheelchairs, i.e. about 65 million people worldwide.
About 20 million of those requiring a wheelchair for mobility do not have access to them.
Out of which, 25% are CHILDREN around the world.
Most of them will not attend schools or have access to formal education.
*(from Guidelines on the provision of Manual Wheelchairs in less resourced settings- World Health Organization 2008).
This results in a loss of over $3 billion A year to the global GDP.
According to A comparison between persons with no schooling and persons with six years of schooling reveals a gap of US$440 to US$1,100 in annual income.
*(from The Social and Economic Impact of Illiteracy: Analytical Model and Pilot Study – UNESCO)