There are new insights to the support of the Physically Disabled through provision of Wheel Chairs.This is to introduce the recommendations of the WheelChair Conference held in Bangalore, November 2006.

The 86 invited participants of the conference included; international charity wheelchair distributors, governmental and non-governmental development organizations, organizations of disabled persons, local wheelchair businesses, large wheelchair factory exporters, universities, rehabilitation centers, orthotic and prosthetic experts and wheelchair users. According to Dr. Federico Montero of WHO, around 1 of 5 participants were wheelchair-users.

The Conference dwelt on several matters including: Definition of an appropriate wheelchair, adoption of the wheelchair ISO standards by developing countries as they exist at present, Training of personnel involved in Wheel chair provision and proper education of the User and Handler

It is imperative that Rotary offers Leadership on this front by engaging the Key stakeholders and Policy makers to ensure conformity with the necessary standards and the promotion of wheelchair user-rights. It comes as an important note that Wheelchairs should be treated as “Prescription Drugs”.

From the deliberations, it is evident that there is need for lobbying for the implementation of the various standards and policy matters thus the need for Rotary to take the initiative with the backing of the Rotary Wheel Chair Foundation. Individual Clubs in the District can also make use of their networks to support this cause.

The Draft of the Conclusions and Recommendations arising from the Wheelchair Conference can be viewed at http://www.disabilityworld.org/01_07/bangalore.shtml

See also: www.rotary9200.org/newsdetail.asp?newsid=357 AND http://rotary9200.org/newsdetail.asp?newsid=358