THE MOTIVATION CHARITABLE TRUST

The problem

Millions of disabled children and adults don't have access to the equipment, services or healthcare they need, with dire consequences. They can’t leave their homes, go to school or find employment. Many lose their lives to preventable complications. Most live in extreme poverty. They feel isolated and alone. Some are abandoned by their communities and loved ones due to the stigma around disability.

The scale:

• Globally, an estimated 75 million people need a wheelchair, but in low- and middle-income countries, only 5% of people who need one have one.
• Over a billion people in the world today have a disability. This is set to double in the next 10 years.
• 80% of disabled people in low- and middle-income countries live in extreme poverty.
• 90% of disabled children in low- and middle-income countries do not go to school.
• 75% of the disabled population in low- and middle-income countries are female, but globally, just 20% of rehabilitation services are received by women and girls.
• 1% of disabled women and girls are literate.
• Disabled women and girls are up to 10x times more likely to suffer abuse than their non-disabled peers.

The vision

It doesn't have to be this way.

We envision a world where all disabled people are included and can fully participate in every aspect of life. Where the stigma around disability is no more, so that all disabled children are loved and accepted by their families, friends and peers. So they can go to school, to university, play sports and travel. A world where all disabled parents, regardless of where they live, can provide for and play with their children. Where people have the wheelchairs and other assistive technology products they need to have mobility, independence and dignity. 

The method

We have been working towards this vision for several decades. We have offered hope and support to thousands of people. We know because they tell us themselves, and our teams in Africa and India see it on a daily basis. We are currently running projects in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and India, and have previously worked in many other locations too. How we do it:

• Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are at the heart of our work – but not just any wheelchair. We believe in providing the right wheelchair, in the right way - this prevents secondary health problems and further disability. 

Our wheelchairs are also designed by experts to deal with the potholed roads, rough terrain and rural environments found in the countries in which we work. This ensures that our wheelchairs, unlike others, really do make getting to school, work and out into the community possible for the people we work with.

• Training

We provide training sessions to everyone from teachers, to healthcare staff, to parents and carers of disabled children. These sessions - run by locals - encourage inclusive education and healthcare, and help parents and carers meet the unique needs of their disabled child.

• Advocacy and Policy

We promote the importance of making sure that each wheelchair is individually fitted by a trained professional to World Health Organization standards. When this is achieved, entire communities and economies benefit. 

There is a 9 to 1 return on investment on correct wheelchair provision. We work with partner organisations, governments and individual community members to get this knowledge out to more people and institutions. 

For example, we have designed wheelchairs with the International Paralympic Committee, International Tennis Federation and International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, recently did this with the Global Disability Hub, and re-shared this work we did with Humanity and Inclusion in response to the crisis in Ukraine. 

What makes us different?

• We were founded several decades ago by a wheelchair user themselves
• We champion sustainable development, sharing our experience and resources so that development in the countries we work in is in the hands of local people
• In large, broader international non-governmental organisations the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities often get lost. For us, people with disabilities are the priority.
• We amplify the voices of people with disabilities, sharing their stories and expertise in their own words.