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ISWP Resources

Other resources

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ISWP Affiliate Project – Philippines:

The ISWP Advisory Board selected Philippine Society of Wheelchair Professionals (PSWP) as one of two organizations to conduct a pilot affiliate program. ISWP affiliates are organizations which support ISWP activities by providing training, testing wheelchairs, manufacturing wheelchairs, delivering wheelchairs, or developing
materials to be used by ISWP, for example. As part of the pilot, PSWP performed a wheelchair sector needs assessment, held stakeholder meetings using the WHO Managers and Stakeholders training packages and prepared a strategic plan.

Affiliate Project Philippine Needs Assessment Report on Wheelchair Service Provision

Affiliate Project Philippine Strategic Plan of the Philippine Society of Wheelchair Professionals

ISWP Affiliate Project – Romania:

The ISWP Advisory Board selected Motivation Romania as one of two organizations to conduct a pilot affiliate program. ISWP affiliates are organizations which support ISWP activities by providing training, testing wheelchairs, manufacturing wheelchairs, delivering wheelchairs, or developing materials to be used by ISWP, for example. As part of the pilot, Motivation Romania performed a wheelchair sector needs assessment, held stakeholder meetings using the WHO Managers and Stakeholders training packages and prepared a strategic plan.

3. A quick, free, somewhat easy-to-read introduction to empirical social science research methods. By – Christopher S. Home

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Back Up Trust – UK – Wheelchair skills training 

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Caster Test Assembly Documentation: This document contains the assembly instructions, electrical wiring information, component manuals, bill of materials and part drawings required for building the ISWP Caster test equipment.

CSLA Research Platform – Data Access for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national research platform on health and aging allowing researchers to answer critical questions on the biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of aging, disability and disease. The CLSA follows more than 51,000 men and women who were between the ages of 45 and 85 at recruitment, for 20 years. Through its large sample, detailed data collection and longitudinal design, the CLSA enables research on the complex interplay among health determinants

Code of Practice for Disability Equipment, Wheelchair and Seating Services: Discover everything you need to know about planning, commissioning, assessing for and providing disability equipment, wheelchair and seating services safely and effectively in this comprehensive and unique Code of Practice.

Colombia Wheelchair Sector Presentation: This is a presentation about  the wheelchair sector in Colombia. We did a country profile based on  people, policies, products, and provision services in order to understand how the system works, what challenges we have, and proposed strategies to move the wheelchair sector forward.

Concept Note – High-level Meeting, 7th February 2017: The High Level meeting on 7th February 2017 will introduce participants to the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP)1 and provide a forum to identify strategies for WCPT, ISPO and WFOT to increase access to education related to wheelchair provision within the curricula of rehabilitation professionals. The ultimate goal of which is to improve access to appropriate wheelchairs so that people with disabilities have access to products and services in accordance with Article 20 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Curb Drop Test Assembly Documentation: This document outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standard Testing –Wheelchair Curb Drop Testing Machine in compliance with RESNA WC-1/ ISO 7176 standards that require dropping the wheelchair from a height of 50 mm for 6,666 cycles. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts. This document outlines the electrical requirements and recommendations to successfully build this equipment, however specific electrical components and electrical assembly instructions are to be determined by the user.

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Design Considerations: The Design Considerations document was created to guide wheelchair designers, manufacturers, providers, users and their caregivers on design considerations for wheelchairs used in adverse environments, especially those encountered in less-resourced areas. The need for this document was identified as a high priority by the Standards Working Group (SWG) of the International Society for Wheelchair Professionals. The SWG noted that the WHO Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs for Less Resourced Settings provided the general guidance for the design and production of appropriate wheelchairs but lacked detailed information stakeholders need to avoid the common pitfalls for designing wheelchairs where resources are limited and conditions are adverse. A subcommittee of the SWG was formed to draft the document, and the SWG and external reviewers provided feedback remotely and during an in-person meeting hosted by UCP Wheels for Humanity in 2016.

Development of a contextually appropriate, reliable and valid basic Wheelchair Service Provision Test: Currently, there is no internationally accepted way to measure the competency of wheelchair service professionals. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals aims to develop a Wheelchair Service Provision – Basic Test as a preliminary step towards establishing a certification process.

Development of Wheelchair Standards for Less-Resourced Settings: Reports that wheelchairs fail frequently and prematurely in less-resourced settings are likely due to shortcomings in product standardization and regulation in these settings. Higher durability and reliability is needed for wheelchairs used in these settings as they are subjected to unique environmental and use conditions. The standards published by the International Standards Organization (ISO 7176) test wheelchairs for durability, safety and performance but their applicability to products used in the unbuilt environment is unclear. Because of this, wheelchair-related guidelines and reports published by The World Health Organization recommended developing more rigorous durability tests for wheelchairs. This presentation will cover the quality issues reported with wheelchairs in less-resourced settings and the need for developing additional quality standards. The Standards Working Group of International Society of Wheelchair Professionals have recently designed appropriate test methods to address this need. The talk will include these developments and the future work to be conducted by the ISWP Standards Group on wheelchair quality standards for less-resourced settings.

Development of an Online Wheelchair List for Wheelchair Users: Provision of reliable and appropriate wheelchairs requires consumers and providers to be informed regarding product quality and field performance. Consumer Reports is one resource that provides such information with evaluation of consumer products but there is no similar resource for wheelchairs currently. Recognizing this problem, the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals developed an online seating and mobility product list. The list currently displays wheelchairs distributed in less-resourced settings and provides information such as general features, specifications, intended users, standards testing information, images and other information that can be useful to compare and select wheelchairs. Chairs can be filtered as per user and contextual criteria. Users, clinicians and other stakeholders to rate and comment on products based on their experience. Users can also report issues like part failures and under-performing functionalities to manufacturers. The paper presentation covers the development process of the product list and informal evaluation by manufacturers and clinicians. The list can be a great resource during selection of wheelchairs and can assist manufacturers in bettering their products and processes based on user reviews.

Development, reliability, and piloting of a wheelchair caster failure inspection tool (C-FIT): Wheelchair casters fail frequently in the field causing multiple user consequences and wheelchair breakdowns. To inform caster design improvement, there exists no validated tools that can collect caster failures. This need motivated the development of a user-reported, caster failure inspection tool (C-FIT).

Disability Etiquette: Recreational Sports Department at University of California Berkeley is committed to creating a positive inclusive environment in all its services,
programs and facilities. The purpose of this handbook is to support this initiative
as training material for staff in disability etiquette. The lack of awareness about disabilities can lead to unintended stereotypes and discrimination. Access to programs and facilities starts with good customer service! The following tips reflect generally accepted protocol and language. Customers with disabilities, when treated as valued customers, will share information on the accessibility of the programs and facilities.

Double Drum Test Assembly Documentation: This document outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standard Testing — Wheelchair Double Drum Testing Machine in compliance with RESNA WC-1 ISO 7176 standards that require performing 200,000 revolutions at a speed of 1 m/s +/- 0.1 m/s. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts. This document outlines the electrical requirements and recommendations to successfully build this equipment, however specific electrical components and electrical assembly instructions are to be determined by the user.

DPO Report: Disability Inclusion Among Refugees in the Middle East and North Africa: A Needs Assessment of Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, and Turkey</b><br><p>The current refugee crisis in the Middle East presents incredible challenges for the humanitarian aid community. This is especially true when it comes to meeting the complex needs of refugees with disabilities, whose numbers have grown dramatically due to years of active conflict in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, and Sudan. Despite the scale of the crisis and the scarcity of resources to fund ongoing humanitarian aid, more must be done to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs) within existing relief efforts and to use existing resources to better serve the needs of PWDs. Doing more in this regard does not necessarily have to mean spending more.

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The 8 Steps +: In The 8 Steps + , World Vision explores the role of community development organizations in supporting appropriate wheelchair service. The 8 Steps + is based on research into three models of wheelchair programming implemented across the World Vision partnership and draws conclusions from over 60 interviews and focus group discussions to outline the best practices in supporting WHO-compliant wheelchair services. The major finding is that it is not appropriate for untrained community development organizations to conduct wheelchair distribution, but there is a role for these organizations to play through linking with trained service providers and leveraging local relationships for the best outcomes for people with mobility limitations. This new program model is based on integrating the 8 Steps of wheelchair service with 4 key pillars of community support: education, facilitation, collaboration, and advocacy. In this way, the 8 Steps + model goes beyond providing mobility, to ensure an enabling environment that fosters disability inclusion.

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Getting the Right Wheelchair: What the SCI Consumer Needs to Know. Your wheelchair is an important part of your life, so you want to make sure you end up with the right wheelchair that fits your body, preferences, activities and lifestyle. Wheelchair seating technology is a complex and rapidly changing industry, with new types of wheelchairs and components coming on the market all the time. The days of “one size fits all” are long gone. With all the different choices, how do you pick the right one? Many different factors must be considered when making the decision.

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High-level Meeting: The High Level meeting was held on 7th February 2017 to introduce participants to the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) and provided a forum to identify strategies for WCPT, ISPO and WFOT to increase access to education related to wheelchair provision within the curricula of rehabilitation professionals. The ultimate goal is to improve access to appropriate wheelchairs so that people with disabilities have access to products and services in accordance with Article 20 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Please find the evidences that the group presented at the meeting to support the need for wheelchair content in curricula.

ISWP Hybrid Development: Hybrid Wheelchair Workshop Development, ISS Vancouver, March 2018: Development and Implementation of a Hybrid wheelchair workshop for clinicians in international settings. Presented by Mary Goldberg, PhD.

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International Seating Symposium: The International Seating Symposium (ISS) is considered one of the premier meetings in the world of dedicated clinicians, researchers, manufacturers, and others who work to improve seating and mobility among people with disabilities.

International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO): ISPO is a global multidisciplinary non-governmental organization aiming to improve the quality of life for persons who may benefit from prosthetic, orthotic, mobility and assistive devices.

International Tennis Federation: The ITF administers and regulates the game through over 200 affiliated National Associations, together with six Regional Associations. The ITF is responsible for the Rules of Tennis, including the technical specifications for courts and equipment, and the running and enforcing of a joint anti-doping programme.

International Wheelchair Basketball Federation: The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for wheelchair basketball around the world. IWBF is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide opportunities for persons with a lower limb disability to play the game of wheelchair basketball.

International Wheelchair Rugby Federation: Wheelchair Rugby is a mixed team sport for male and female quadriplegic athletes. A unique sport created by athletes with a disability, it combines elements of rugby, basketball and handball. Players compete in teams of four to carry the ball across the opposing team’s goal line. Contact between wheelchairs is permitted, and is in fact an integral part of the sport as players use their chairs to block and hold opponents.

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Lifelong Mobility Dissemination Report: Lifelong Mobility Initiative: dissemination phase final report by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology and Mercyhurst Institute for Public Health and Mercyhurst University Public Health Department.

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Management Science for Health (MSH): Saving lives and improving the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

ISS 2018 Meet and Greet: ISWP Overview, ISS Vancouver, March 2018: ISWP overview and global perspective on wheelchair provision in conjunction with RESNA International Special Interest Group (SIG). Presented by Jon Pearlman, PhD, ISWP, and Perry Loh, RESNA International SIG Chair and Loh Medical.

ISWP Mentoring: Mentoring for Intermediate Level Wheelchair Service Providers, ISS Vancouver, March 2018: Development of a mentoring program for intermediate level wheelchair service providers. Presented by Mary Goldberg, PhD.

Minimum Uniform Dataset (MUD):

ISWP developed two versions of a minimum dataset questionnaire which service providers can use during wheelchair service and provision with clients. The data can be gathered for a client who is being evaluated to receive a wheelchair for the first time or for a replacement wheelchair. The short version includes 26 questions. The long version has 36 questions, with additional questions including wheelchair and cushion manufacturer, make, model; training received; assistance using a wheelchair indoors and outside; distance traveled in the wheelchair; and whether the client takes public transportation. Please note the short version was piloted in Kenya in 2016 and 2017, but the questionnaires have not been validated.

An April 2017 version of the short questionnaire also is available in French. The translation was provided by Université de Montréal, CHU Sainte-Justine Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant. Please note it has not been forward-backward-forward translated, and there have been several changes to questions, which are reflected in the 2018 versions.

An April 2019 version of the short questionnaire also is available in Spanish. The translation was provided by Sara Munera.

Long Version – English

Short Version – English

Short Version – French

Short Version – Spanish

Mobility India (MI): MI’s Rehabilitation, Research & Training Centre at Bangalore, is a model for accessibility and disability-friendliness established in 2002 and spearheads all the activities at Bangalore. The Inclusive Development Centre , Guwahati established in 2015 , is working towards Community Based Inclusive development programs. MI has the field offices for the community projects across urban slums in Bangalore, Jigani, Anekal Taluk, Chamrajnagar, Karnataka. Check out their upcoming trainings here: http://mobility-india.org/programmes/

Motivation Peer Training Resources Summary: A summary of the peer training resources offered by Motivation UK.

Motivation Wheelchair: Their wheelchairs are designed for the challenging environments found in developing countries and, because one size doesn’t fit all, each wheelchair is individually fitted by a trained professional. But the right wheelchair is just the start. To really put the wheels in motion, they give disabled people the training and support they need to be healthy, confident and included in society. And they’re not the only ones to benefit; families, communities, even economies feel the positive change.

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Policy Advocacy Kit (PAK): Policy Advocacy Kit (PAK) is a guide to support the strengthening of policies to ensure wheelchair users have access to appropriate wheelchair services and products that fulfill the obligations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

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Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA): It is the premier professional organization dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of people with disabilities through increasing access to technology solutions. RESNA advances the field by offering certification, continuing education, and professional development; developing assistive technology standards; promoting research and public policy; and sponsoring forums for the exchange of information and ideas to meet the needs of our multidisciplinary constituency.

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Special Seating: An Illustrated Guide – Special Seating: An Illustrated Guide (Revised Edition) can be used by anyone involved in the seating process: from beginners through people who consider themselves experts. It has been referred to by seating specialists as an “indispensable resource” and an “essential item for every seating clinician’s toolbox.

ISWP Strategic Plan 2017-2021: ISWP’s 2017-2021 strategic plan was developed by a Strategic Planning Subcommittee and approved by the ISWP Advisory Board. The plan addresses five areas of focus: Advocacy, Education, Evidence-based Practice, Product Standards and Global Information Resource.

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TATCOT: This course is intended to enroll students from Tanzania and other English speaking African countries as well as from other interested countries. Furthermore the course has been further split into two modules namely Technical module and Clinical modules.

Testing Dummy: Materials and Assembly – Testing Dummy: Materials and Assembly. The following documentation outlines the required materials and proper assembly instructions for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Standards Testing – Testing Dummy. These instructions are for a 100kg testing dummy in compliance with ISO 7176/RESNA WC-1 standards. Following the detailed assembly instructions are a bill of materials and 2-dimensional drawings for all of the sub-assemblies and their individual parts.

Trainee/Co-Trainer Competency Assessment (TCA): This assessment is designed as a tool to assess the ability of WHO WSTP trainees against a set of pre-set competencies. For each competency, the observing ToT trainer will give a score of 1-3 (where 1= do not move forward with process; 2= move forward with remediation plan; 3= move forward). Trainees achieving an overall score of 2.5 or higher will have reached an acceptable standard for recognition by the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP). This tool can be used in both the WHO Training of Trainers (ToT) course and the co-trainings.

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Ultimate Travel Insurance and Ultimate Guide: Ultimate Travel Insurance and Disabilities Guide: This guide offers essential information for travellers with disabilities including accessible travel destinations, the different health conditions normally covered by travel insurance, and many other useful tips and resources for travelling with a disability.

UPMC Wheelchair Maintenance Training Program: Through a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury, Midwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System, Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System and South Florida Spinal Cord Injury Model System the Wheelchair Maintenance Training Program (WMTP) has been developed to train clinicians on how to teach wheelchair users (and caregivers when applicable) in a group setting to perform maintenance at home.

UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development 2018: UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development 2018</b><br><p>This report represents the first UN systemwide effort to examine disability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level. The report reviews data, policies and programmes and identifies good practices; and uses the evidence it reviewed to outline recommended actions to promote the realization of the SDGs for persons with disabilities.

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World Health Organization (WHO) Wheelchair Service Training Package (WSTP):

The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), developed the Wheelchair Service Training Packages. The main purpose of the training package is to develop the minimum skills and knowledge required by personnel involved in wheelchair service delivery.

Wheelchair Stakeholders’ Meeting 2018 Executive Summary: The 2018 Wheelchair Stakeholders’ Meeting brought together various stakeholder groups, including past and present USAID implementing partners, academia and other sector technical specialists, to react on past achievements and challenges, discuss current initiatives, and strategize for a future with greater access to appropriate wheelchairs.

Wheelchair Skills Program – Dalhousie University: This website deals with the Wheelchair Skills Program (WSP). The WSP includes the Wheelchair Skills Test (WST), the questionnaire version of the WST (WST-Q) and the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP). It is used to assess and train wheelchair users and/or their caregivers and clinicians.

Whirlwind Wheelchair: Whirlwind Wheelchair International is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the developing world while promoting sustainable local economic development in the process. We work to make it possible for every person in the world who needs a high quality wheelchair to obtain one, leading to maximum personal independence and integration into society. By giving wheelchair riders a central role in all aspects of our designs and projects, Whirlwind ensures that our chairs are individually appropriate for each user and his or her respective environment. For thirty years in over 60 countries we have focused on producing durable, low-cost, and highly functional wheelchairs. These chairs give riders the reliable and functional mobility they need to reach their full potential. Our active adult wheelchair design, the RoughRider®, is used by 60,000 riders traveling over every terrain that only the best of wheelchairs can cross, from muddy village paths to rough pot-holed urban streets.