John Perlman
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, USA

There is a tremendous need for mobility and special seating devices in developing countries—from basic, strong and durable wheelchairs, to customized systems for children with cerebral palsy. For decades, groups have been trying to meet this need through various techniques which include starting small-scale wheelchair and seating workshops; importing large-quantities of western-style wheelchairs; and training clinicians and engineers in these countries to design, prescribe, and fit appropriate devices. The pace and quantity of these efforts has been growing steadily over the past decade, but groups are largely uncoordinated, and marked progress has not been made.

Recently, though, collaboration between the World Health Organization, the International Society For Prosthetics and Orthotics, the United States Agency for International Development, and stakeholders from developing and developed countries may help improve the way that seating and mobility devices are provided in developing countries. These efforts have several aims, including coordinating the various groups trying the meet the needs in these countries, establishing minimum standards for the devices and service, and promoting evidence-based practice. While this is a challenging goal, if achieved, the overwhelming need may finally start to be met with appropriate and coordinated efforts.