Worldmade Wheelchair Services

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What is Worldmade?

Worldmade is an initiative run by Motivation to provide low cost, appropriate wheelchairs and seating through the establishment of Worldmade Wheelchair Services in accordance with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines on the provision of Manual Wheelchairs in less resourced settings¹.

What is a Worldmade Wheelchair Service?

A Worldmade Wheelchair Service is designed to work with a broad range of individual wheelchair users to assess, prescribe and safely and comfortably fit the Worldmade range of wheelchairs and seating products.

Following Service Start-up Training, Worldmade Wheelchair Services can be introduced to extend the product range provided by an existing wheelchair service centre or workshop, or can be used to establish a new service.

Who can benefit from a Worldmade Wheelchair Service?

The services are designed to cater for the needs of the following individuals:

Children or adults who can sit upright (neutral posture2) and who require a manual wheelchair or tricycle. Children or adults who require simple postural support to provide stability for comfort and function, which can safely be provided through the Worldmade seating range.

What is the Worldmade (WM) product range?

WM Active Folding: a four wheel foldable wheelchair designed for semi-urban/urban areas which have paved areas and public transport.
WM Standard Folding: a basic four wheel wheelchair that is most suited for temporary short term use (for example emergency relief or for use in hospitals).
WM Rough Terrain: a three wheel active wheelchair which allows safe and stable propulsion over uneven ground.
WM Clip-on Tricycle: a quick release clip-on, clip-off attachment which converts the Rough Terrain into a tricycle.
WM Tricycle: a hand powered tricycle.
WM Moti Start and Moti Go: a floor based or wheeled supportive seat for children who need extra postural support.

How is a Worldmade Wheelchair Service established?

Preferably a Worldmade Wheelchair Service will be set up with an organisation already involved in health or rehabilitation programmes for people with disabilities, but this is not always essential. As an initial step, an organisation will be asked to complete an organisational research questionnaire so Motivation can find out more about the structure and activities of the organisation.

As a guide, the following elements are needed to run a Worldmade Wheelchair Service:

1. A centre with adequate facilities and space to:
Privately assess and fit clients with their wheelchair
Assemble wheelchairs
Store wheelchairs
2. Service equipment, e.g. assessment beds, assembly tools and work bench.
3. Wheelchair service personnel:
Ideally at least two staff who have undergone the Worldmade Start-up Training.
A member of staff to coordinate and manage the operations of the Wheelchair Service.
4. The ability to pay for or raise funds in order to purchase the Worldmade products and support costs of service delivery.

Once both Motivation and the organisation are confident a wheelchair service can be established a Memorandum of Understanding will be prepared. Arrangements will be made to register staff to attend the Worldmade Start-up Training and Worldmade products will need to be ordered and delivered to the service.

What is Worldmade Wheelchair Service Start-up Training?

The Start-up Training provides the participant with the knowledge and skills to:
Assemble and adjust the full range of WM products;
Assess, prescribe, fit and instruct users to sit comfortably and safely in a WM product (without modifications).

The length of the training is three days. The overall in-country training preparation, delivery and conclusion can be completed within a five day period.

Compliance with WHO Guidelines

All products, services and training involved in a Worldmade Wheelchair Service are compliance with the WHO Guidelines. The Worldmade Wheelchair Service is designed as a primary service to provide a starting point for service delivery. To deal with more complex seating and postural support needs and to achieve full compliance with the WHO Guidelines, further training will be required beyond the Worldmade Start-up Training. This training is also available from Motivation.

¹ download the WHO guidelines
² Neutral posture: how the body is aligned, with level shoulders and hips and upper body balanced over hips