Our Wheelchairs

Every Child Deserves The Right Wheelchair

In 2008, the World Health Organization released the first global guidelines on wheelchair provision for children living in less-resourced countries. The message was clear: a wheelchair is not just a piece of equipment - it is a lifeline to health, education and inclusion.

The WHO highlighted that millions of children are given wheelchairs that are unsafe, the wrong size or impossible to maintain or repair in their local environment. Too often, donated wheelchairs sit unused or even cause further harm, which is why they advocated for proper wheelchair provisioning along with a suitable design.

Wheelchairs For Kids Australia

The Guidelines Set Out That Every Child Deserves

  • The right wheelchair – safe, durable and designed for rough terrain.
  • The right fit – assessed and adjusted for the child’s needs.
  • The right support – training, repairs and follow-up care to ensure long-term use.

Without the right wheelchair, children remain excluded from classrooms, from playing with friends and from community life.

At Wheelchairs For Kids Australia, we build our chairs to meet WHO guidelines and ensure they are delivered with care by trained local distribution partners.

Key WHO Design Recommendations

Durability

Wheelchairs should last in hot, humid and rough outdoor conditions, with parts that resist rust and damage.

All-Terrain Ready

Large, stable wheels and strong frames so children can travel over dirt roads, rocky paths and uneven ground—not just smooth hospital floors.

Proper Fit

Adjustable seats, cushions and supports to prevent pressure sores, improve posture and allow children to grow with their chair.

Repairable Locally

Built from parts that can be serviced and maintained with tools and materials available in the child’s own community.

Cultural Acceptance

Chairs that suit local customs and daily life, so children feel proud to use them and families can support their care.

The WHO warns that poorly designed or ill-fitted wheelchairs can cause serious injuries - pressure sores, spinal deformities, respiratory problems - or end up being abandoned altogether.

A Global First - Wheelchairs For Kids Australia ‘Adjusta’ Model

With the WHO guidelines to follow, our factory volunteers set about creating a new wheelchair model that would be fit-for-purpose for children living in developing countries. Completed in 2009, the Adjusta is our flagship, ninth model wheelchair and was the first in the world to receive WHO accreditation.

The Adjusta Wheelchair Features

  • A strong steel subframe with aluminium framework.
  • Puncture proof, wide back tyres with self-propelling handrails and a self-steering pivot front wheel to increase stability and suitability for rough terrains.
  • Postural supports for hip and trunk, padded knee separator and adjustable supportive straps.
  • Height and width adjustable footrests, headrest and backrest.
  • Seat cushion with hard wearing, water-resistant fabric.
  • Tiltable chair inclination and adjustable seat width.
  • Tray for mealtimes or school activities along with a tool kit including spare nuts & bolts.
  • Bright colours in chassis and cushioning that are child-friendly.

Every wheelchair is also packed with a handmade knee rug and soft toys to add extra comfort and joy for each child.

The WHO also recommends that wheelchair suppliers provide local training and support. WFKA has developed a comprehensive training manual along with step-by-step videos to enable local partners to assemble wheelchairs and to assess and fit each child individually to their new wheelchair.

For more than ten years, WFKA has sent volunteer occupational therapists and physiotherapists to countries all around the world to train and support our local distribution partners. Our goal is to one day be able to send a qualified team with every container of wheelchairs shipped.

Learn more about the history of our wheelchairs and our manufacturing process.