Project Summary

P19

Richard Frost

+44 (0)1275 464012

frost@motivation.org.uk

The project aims to establish an international production centre designed for high volume manufacturing of low cost, appropriate wheelchairs. Motivation will research and develop the use of economies of scale to produce a high quality product at a low price, ensuring that the range of designs is versatile enough to meet individual needs of wheelchair users in developing countries worldwide. The project is a response to an increased demand on Motivation for low-cost wheelchairs. 

Motivation will work with local disability organisations and wheelchair users themselves in all aspects of providing a comprehensive and essential service to those most in need.  Motivation industrial designers will research and develop a range of prototypes which will be tested in six Regional training Centres across the world (Sri Lanka, Romania, South Africa, Australasia, Nicaragua and India). Appropriate finance systems will also be researched to enable some of the poorest people to access a suitable wheelchair. A generic training package will be created for local partners to initiate and to train others to initiate wheelchair service provision. A wheelchair production site and local partner will be identified and local materials sourced. Information resources on designs and other aspects of individual wheelchair use will be disseminated by interactive CD-ROM and Internet to local partners and Motivation teams.