Wheelchair Repair Shop Seeing Success

In the left photo, a member of HEI/SBH’s Rehabilitation and Community Reintegration Program works in the wheelchair repair shop at the program’s new campus in Fond des Blancs, Haiti.

The wheelchair repair workshop, which opened seven months ago, averages 20 new wheelchair repairs a month and distributes roughly four new wheelchairs a month. Workers in the shop have had more than two years of training opportunities on wheelchair repairs and seating, and have been trained to make molds and perform modifications on supportive orthotic devices useful to people with spinal cord injuries.

“Our team works hard to keep our wheelchair users on the road by ensuring that their chairs are safe and fully functional,” said Program Director Betsy Sherwood, who cites re-welding of foot rests, changing of tires and general tune-ups as the most common repairs.

The vast majority of wheelchairs are distributed to members of SBH’s program, who come from all over Haiti to receive specialized care. They are evaluated for what type of chair would be the best fit for them, Sherwood said, and the program team works with the recipients of the chair to ensure they can learn basic wheelchair skills and be more independent.