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Transcription for this video: Haiti Project with The Walkabout Foundation
After the devastating Haiti earthquake of 2010, many Haitians suffered severe injuries, while much of much of the country’s infrastructure laid destroyed. Whirlwind recognized that there was a urgent need for the RoughRider wheelchair, which is specifically designed for rough terrain.
We offer our special thanks to the Walkabout Foundation and the other donors who made this project possible. Without you, we couldn’t have helped as many people as we did.
Walkabout Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides wheelchairs and rehabilitation in the developing world and funds research to find a cure for paralysis.
While the cure is being found, Walkabout Foundation seeks to provide humanitarian assistance to people with disabilities on the ground today by donating wheelchairs to people who can otherwise not afford one.
Walkabout Foundation donates the “RoughRider” wheelchair which is exclusively designed for the rough and rugged terrain of the developing world.
In collaboration with our local partners, they are establishing a number of centres around the world to provide rehabilitation to children with mobility disabilities. These ‘Walkabout Centres’ provide daily physical and occupational therapy, care and education, with the aim of eventually integrating these children into mainstream or special education.
To find the distance between your hips, first position yourself seated with pelvis upright on a firm surface. Then, measure the distance between the widest points of the hips and thighs without compressing any tissue. Finally, record your measurements. It is important not to have a chair that is wider than necessary as it will be harder to push and may prevent you from passing through narrow doorways.
Position yourself seated upright on a firm surface. Measure the length of your upper leg, the distance from behind the knee to the back of the pelvis (back of your lower leg). Subtract 1/2” to find the maximum seat depth, to allow for space between the back of the knee/upper leg and seat fabric. Record the final measurement.
Your preferred backrest height is determined by your personal comfort level and physical ability. Whirlwind recommends, generally, that the top of the back support should fall just beneath the bottom of the shoulder blade. For less active riders who require more torso support, the back support should be higher, falling just beneath the armpit. Position yourself seated upright on a firm surface. Hold your hands flat against the surface you are sitting on. Measure the distance from the seated surface to the desired, most comfortable point for support on your back. To this number add the height of your cushion when you are sitting on it. Record the measurement.
Backrest angles are determined by the torso control of the rider. Whirlwind recommends that those with less torso control, such as quadriplegics, sit with a backrest angled further backwards to avoid falling forward in a wheelchair. Those with more torso control, such as amputees, can sit with the backrest more upright. Proper backrest angle is best determined by an occupational therapist or healthcare professional. Although there is only one option – 8 degrees – in the drop-down list below, you can adjust the backrest angle by adjusting the backrest straps (i.e. looser at the bottom and tighter at the top for a more erect position).
Now please enter your measurements into the fields on the product page before ordering. For more information about measuring, please refer to the RoughRider Fitting Sheet. You are responsible for choosing the right chair for yourself. If you are uncomfortable with determining your wheelchair size, please consult a professional.