The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) are pleased to announce the release of new Wheelchair provision guidelines, following their launch at the ISPO World Congress in April.
These Wheelchair provision guidelines aim to support improved access to appropriate wheelchairs, for all those in need, including children, older persons, people with mobility disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions. They are relevant for all countries and apply to all wheelchair users and types of wheelchairs. They emphasize that the best outcomes in wheelchair access occur when wheelchair users have the benefit of an individual process of assessment, fitting, training, and follow up, provided by trained personnel. Their purpose is to ensure that wheelchair users have timely access through wheelchair services that are people-centred and responsive to their needs. Target audiences are those with a role in planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of wheelchair provision. This includes policy-makers, wheelchair service personnel, and wheelchair user representative organizations.
