About Our Wheelchairs
About Our Wheelchairs
Our Standard Manual Wheelchair
The Wheelchair Foundation provides a durable, foldable, and cost-effective manual wheelchair designed to help restore mobility and independence to people in need around the world.
Features Include:
- Removable armrests and swing-away footrests
- Red powder-coated steel frame
- Black nylon fire-resistant upholstery
- Heavy-duty front castors with polyurethane wheels
- Rear mag wheels with solid tires
- Wheelchair Weigh approximately 45 lbs
These wheelchairs are designed for durability and ease of maintenance. They are built with sealed bearings, composite rims, and heavy-duty front casters for use on non-flat terrain.
Why They Matter
- In many developing nations, a wheelchair can cost up to $1,700, making it financially unobtainable for most families.
- Thanks to large-scale purchasing and shipping, we can deliver a wheelchair for around $200 (costs vary; confirm updated numbers).
- Our wheelchairs come in five seat sizes: 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, and 20″.
- 12″ and 14″ sizes are typically for children and small adults.
- 16″, 18″, and 20″ sizes are typically for adults.
Appropriate Use
- Our standard manual wheelchairs serve the majority of recipients.
- They are not designed for individuals with extreme disabilities (e.g., advanced CP, spinal cord injuries, or motor-control disabilities) who may require specialized seating devices.
- Final fitting and distribution decisions are made by our partner organizations.
Wheelchair Donation Cycle
The journey of each donated wheelchair:
- Donor contribution
- Purchase order sent to factory
- Wheelchairs shipped via ocean freight
- Arrival at destination port, customs cleared
- Delivered to NGO partners
- Distributed to individuals in need
- Photos and reports sent to donors
Get a Wheelchair
The Wheelchair Foundaion provides and distributes standard manual wheelchairs only. We accept charitable donations to fund our mission.
FAQ
Can I donate my used wheelchair?
No. We cannot accept physical wheelchair donations.
Where are the wheelchairs manufactured?
We purchase wheelchairs from several manufacturers in China that build a quality product designed to be easily maintainable in developing countries.
How much does a wheelchair cost?
We can purchase and deliver a wheelchair to our distribution partners worldwide for an average of $200. This wheelchair would normally cost $600 in the U.S., but the large quantities that we purchase allow us to deliver each one for roughly $200, by a 280-wheelchair sea container. This same type of wheelchair sells for up to $1,700 US in some developing countries.
Are these wheelchairs designed for rough, third-world conditions?
Yes. The wheelchairs that we distribute are specifically designed for the rough conditions of developing countries. Heavy-duty wheels, tires, and front casters, sealed bearings and nylon seating make these wheelchairs the best possible solution for most conditions.