Why Wheelchairs
Personal Mobility Is A Human Right
Wheelchairs For Kids Australia supports the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and believes that access to mobility is a fundamental human right and is essential for inclusion and independence. Aligned with the UN Convention, we believe every child deserves the freedom to participate fully in life.
Our goal is to help remove barriers to access by gifting mobility solutions that empower children with disabilities and their families.
Sadly, The Shortage Of Wheelchairs Worldwide Is Staggering
While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact figure, leading global health agencies estimate 10 to 14 million children in less-developed countries need a wheelchair but don’t have one.
The impact on their life goes far beyond a lack of mobility. Without a wheelchair, children are more likely to suffer poor health, reduced life-expectancy, miss out on school and later employment, and be cut off from community life.
Disability and poverty are also closely linked. Families with a child who has a disability are more likely to live in severe poverty. Poverty in turn increases the risk of further hardship including poor nutrition, preventable illness and lack of access to healthcare. A wheelchair can help to break this vicious cycle; giving a child mobility and providing the possibility of a better future for the entire family.
Some Of The Harsh Facts Of Life For Children With A Disability In Developing Countries
- Children with moderate to severe disabilities face substantially higher risks of malnutrition, including being underweight or having stunted growth, than other children.
- 90 per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school.
- For every child killed in warfare, three are injured and acquire a permanent disability.
- Violence against children with disabilities occurs at rates at least 1.7 times greater than for their peers.
- Unemployment rates often range between 80% and 90% for working-age individuals with disabilities.
Source: un.org
A wheelchair is more than a mechanical device; it is a gateway to health, education and social inclusion.
Learn more about the positive impact of wheelchairs and find out how our wheelchairs are helping bring effective mobility solutions to children in developing countries.