Training
The Wheelchair Project is proud to continue to carry out its efforts to share the information and experience we have accumulated over the last 20 years of work. This last year the RICD Wheelchair Project successfully carried out 3 separate training programs to educate local medical and technical participants with the goal of setting up partner centers all over Thailand. This WHO-based training gives the participants an overview of the process and methodology regarding processing wheelchair applicants, wheelchair types and prescriptions, matching the wheelchair adaptations to the individual needs of the user, safety training for the user and caregivers, and the maintenance and repair of the wheelchairs.
By combining the medical and technical skill sets of these participants, trainees will work in tandem to both understand the needs and considerations that their patients have, as well as how to safely and appropriately adjust their wheelchair or assistive device to meet these needs. Gone will be the days of extended wait times for a wheelchair and an over-extended group of select wheelchair provisioners like ourselves.
Training of Trainers
The Wheelchair Project has long used the World Health Organization’s wheelchair provision materials for a basis of the training programs it puts on and have held the ISWP model and credential program in high esteem. So it was an honor to be included in this first ever Hybrid version of their Training of Trainers Basic course. We are now in the final stages of implementing a full Thai translation of the training and testing materials which we will be offering nation-wide. This was a big step forward in realizing our large scale vision.
The RICD Wheelchair Project is a strong supporter of developing a worldwide network of people dedicated to improving the conditions and opportunities afforded to people affected by disability, particularly in the realm of assistive technology provision. It was exciting to meet other people and organizations in the wheelchair provision field and discuss the various challenges, strategies, and experiences we have in our respective origin locations. This type of information exchange is essential to not only effective program development, but also widespread model dissemination and adoption with an accepted universal standard.
Our team was also able to take this opportunity to visit the office of our largest equipment donor, Joni and Friends as well as meet Joni Eareckson Tada herself!
Massive interest
In the short time since the inception of the training program initiative, there has been significant interest from many centers, individuals, and officials to see this be made available throughout the country. Many partners have admired the work our volunteers have done for years and the opportunity to replicate these services permanently in their home towns has prompted a lot of pressure to hold these trainings much more frequently, but it is our desire to ensure that we grow judiciously and do not sacrifice the quality of the work for the sake of quantity and expansion.