Who, What & Why?
Who Is Whirlwind and What We Do
Whirlwind Wheelchair International is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated
Arnulfo Criollo on his RoughRider going down one of the many ramp-less curbs in Cali Colombia to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the developing world while also promoting sustainable local economic development in the process. We work to make it possible for every person in the world who needs a high quality wheelchair to obtain one, leading to maximum personal independence and integration into society. By giving wheelchair riders a central role in all aspects of our designs and projects, Whirlwind ensures that our chairs are individually appropriate for each user and his or her respective environment. For thirty years in over 40 countries we have focused on producing durable, low-cost, and highly functional wheelchairs. These chairs give riders the reliable and functional mobility they need to reach their full potential. Our active adult wheelchair design, the RoughRider®, is used by 25,000 riders traveling over every terrain that only the best of wheelchairs can cross, from muddy village paths to rough pot-holed urban streets.
In partnership with our wheelchair donor/buyers, Whirlwind provided 3,000 RoughRiders® in 2008 and 3,500 in 2009 and 5000 in 2010. These chairs were produced through our network of regional, quality-certified manufacturers, which currently can produce 12,000 RoughRiders® per year. Small wheelchair shops across the developing world produced many more Whirlwind chairs under our public domain licensing program.
Whirlwind headquarters is located on the San Francisco State University campus as part of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. Whirlwind is a tax-deductible 501(3)(c) non-profit operating under the umbrella of the University Corporation San Francisco State.
Why Wheelchairs?
Joe works at a wheelchair shop in the Philippines. He's shown here tending chickens in his back yard.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 out of every 300 people, 20 million people, in the developing world are in need of a good wheelchair. [WHO Wheelchair Guidelines, 2008] At Whirlwind, we define a "good wheelchair" as one that's safe, durable, locally repairable, and highly useable for the rider. Without durability, breakdowns can interrupt activities like staying in school and getting to work. Without local repairability, wheelchair users depend on international aid and assistance. Because most riders can afford to own only a single chair, they need an all-purpose chair. An all-purpose wheelchair is functional for many activities such as crossing over tree roots or broken pavement, reaching down to floor level to care for small children, allowing elbow room to do work tasks, and folding for easy transport in cars and public transportation.