Shonaquip cc Wheelchair seating services, training and outreach clinics – linking medical rehab services to quality community based living solutions CBR African Conferencen2007 Shona McDonald South Africa Shonaquip cc Wheelchair seating services, training and outreach clinics – linking medical rehab services to quality community based living solutions CBR African Conferencen2007 Shona McDonald South Africa

Recognising the value of appropriate mobility and seating support equipment

Wrong device or no device ? Implications for wheelchair distribution

What happens if we make the wrong decisions?

The solution : The solution :  Strong, versatile and easily adapted and appropriate products  TOGETHER  Training, services and capacity building

The purpose Impact on individual quality of life Impact on individual quality of life

Change attitudes towards disability Change attitudes towards disability

Develop skills and create employment Develop skills and create employment

Build local capacity and sustainable services Build local capacity and sustainable services

Influence government policy development Influence government policy development and spending and spending

How ? ■ Identify local disability initiatives ■ Identify government services and supporting policy ■ Identify strong motivated individuals

■ ■ create guidelines and standards that support a long term vision

  Build mutually beneficial partnerships with government and local groups and individuals

Coordinate sustainable training and support services with a mutual understanding of priorities and expected outcomes Coordinate sustainable training and support services with a mutual understanding of priorities and expected outcomes

Shonaquip a socially responsible company establised a ppp with DOH to provide professional training and outreach clinic services for high risk patients in the urban, peri urban and rural areas of the province. This service includes: Seating assessment, management and screening, assistive devices check, maintenance and repairs. Seating assessment, management and screening, assistive devices check, maintenance and repairs. Training of care attendants, staff and parents. Training of care attendants, staff and parents. Support and capacity building of professional staff. Support and capacity building of professional staff. Wheelchair service delivery, needs analysis and problem solving. Wheelchair service delivery, needs analysis and problem solving.

Shonaquip employs people with disabilities as technicians and peer group trainers and life facilitators These technicians train new wheelchair users in skills of maintenance and repair of their own wheelchairs. this sharing of skills reduces the number of repairs and replacement parts as problems get identified early and fixed before they become a costly problem

These services extend to the sharing personal information, links to appropriate NGO/NPO service affiliated organisations, social services, rights based organisations or just linking users with similar hopes, dreams and physical needs These services extend to the sharing personal information, links to appropriate NGO/NPO service affiliated organisations, social services, rights based organisations or just linking users with similar hopes, dreams and physical needs

Establishing international links with like minded and associated groups – Establishing international links with like minded and associated groups – Assisting the Pan African Wheelchair Association in its vision to provide appropriate wheelchairs in Africa, by sharing information on cost effective production and, professional assessment, fitting and clinic support services Assisting the Pan African Wheelchair Association in its vision to provide appropriate wheelchairs in Africa, by sharing information on cost effective production and, professional assessment, fitting and clinic support services

Establish wheelchair learnerships and apprenticeships for technicians and therapists wanting to build sustainable wheelchair services in there own settings Establish wheelchair learnerships and apprenticeships for technicians and therapists wanting to build sustainable wheelchair services in there own settings

If we work together we can achieve our aims and prevent suffering and wasted life

And positively affect peoples perceptions of disability