Steve Wilkinson
Where it all started
International Wheelchair Day was founded on March 1, 2008, by Steve Wilkinson, a passionate advocate for wheelchair users who lived with spina bifida. Steve’s vision was to create a global movement that celebrated the positive impact of wheelchairs, recognised the efforts of those who provide and support mobility solutions and raised awareness about the millions of people still in need of a wheelchair. Though Steve passed away in 2024, his legacy lives on. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) is committed to honoring his advocacy and continuing to promote International Wheelchair Day, ensuring that accessibility, inclusion, and mobility remain a global priority.
Will you join the movement with us?
2025 International Wheelchair Day Events
Community Based seating and repair clinics
Organisation: Shonaquip
Location: South Africa
Contact: kim@henshilwooddesign.com & Shona@ShonaquipSE.org.za
Learning session on the WHO guidelines and more
Surf Therapy & International Wheelchair Day
Organisation: Roxy Davis Foundation
Location: Surfer’s Corner Muizenberg
Date: 1/03/2025
This event brings together volunteers and participants to create a powerful day of inclusion, connection, and surf therapy—where the ocean becomes a space of freedom and joy for all.
Celebrate Inclusion, Mobility & Innovation
Organisation: Kyaninga Mobility
Location: Kyaninga Lodge, Fort Portal
Date: 1/03/2025
Join us for International Wheelchair Day 2025! Celebrate mobility, resilience, and inclusion with wheelchair users, advocates, and athletes. Promote accessibility, challenge perceptions, and enjoy a day of fun!
Celebrate International Wheelchair Day with Free Entry at Merlin Attractions
Organisation: Merlin Entertainments
Date: 1/03/2025
Merlin Entertainments is offering free entry to mobility device users and their carers at all Australian and New Zealand attractions from March 1st to 3rd, 2025, in celebration of International Wheelchair Day.
Thank you to everyone who joined our launch webinars for the Responsible Wheelchair Donation toolkit. It was incredible to see so many people from around the world come together to talk about what makes a wheelchair donation a good donation.
A big thank you to our speakers for sharing their experience and insights, and to everyone who joined. 🙏
We’re excited to share that the toolkit is now available to download. and the webinar recording can be accessed 📥
Inside the toolkit, you’ll find:
✅ ISWP’s position and core principles
✅ Minimum requirements for donations of new and used wheelchairs
✅ Practical guidance for before, during and after a donation
✅ Real lessons from Thailand, Romania and Lebanon
✅ Ready-to-use guides and checklists
Whether you donate wheelchairs, receive them or support wheelchair provision, this resource is for you.
👉 Download the toolkit and watch the recording: https://iswp.org/responsible-wheelchair-donation-toolkit/
Please share with colleagues and partners who work in wheelchair donation. 💚
#ResponsibleWheelchairDonation #WheelchairProvision #AssistiveTechnology #ISWP #WheelchairUsers
In their words: Sophie Minelli
Sophie Minelli is a mentee in our mentorship programme, paired with mentor Paula. She has also just started the Postgraduate Certificate in Posture Seating and Wheelchair Mobility Across the Life Course in Limerick.
Here`s what she had to say:
"Through my mentor`s guidance, I have gained practical tools, increased my confidence, and feel better equipped to promote evidence-based practice and advocate for meaningful change. I`m so happy and grateful to have Paula as a mentor."
Stories like Sophie`s are what our mentorship programme is all about. If you`re looking for a mentor, reach out to us to find out more!
Ability meets mobility.
#ISWP #Mentorship #InTheirWords #WheelchairProvision
⏰ Don’t miss it! Our Responsible Wheelchair Donation toolkit launches on Thursday .
Join wheelchair users, donors, recipient organisations and assistive technology experts as we explore the opportunities, challenges and practical steps involved in responsible donation.
Two sessions, to suit different time zones:
🕗 8:00 am UK | 9:00 am CEST
🕑 2:00 pm UK | 3:00 pm CEST
📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
✅ Free. Register now to receive your Zoom link.
🔗 https://iswp.org/responsible-wheelchair-donation-toolkit/
Please share with colleagues and partners who are involved in donating, receiving or providing wheelchairs. 🙌
#AppropriateWheelchairProvision #ISWP #WheelchairDonation #AssistiveTechnology #WheelchairServices
Donating wheelchairs isn’t simply good or bad. It’s about getting the right wheelchair to the right person, through the right service. 💚
ISWP’s new responsible wheelchair donation toolkit moves beyond the debate about whether donations are good or bad. It offers a practical framework to make sure donations are appropriate, effective and part of local wheelchair provision systems.
Inside the toolkit:
📌 ISWP’s position and eight core principles on donated wheelchairs
📌 The risks of inappropriate donation, and how to avoid them
📌 Minimum requirements for acceptable donations
📌 Practical guidance for before, during and after donation
📌 Case studies from Thailand, Romania and Lebanon
📌 Practical tools, including a donor decision guide, a service partner readiness guide and a wheelchair screening checklist
It considers the different perspectives and responsibilities of wheelchair users, donors and recipient organisations, so that every donation strengthens services rather than bypassing them.
Be among the first to explore it at our launch webinar. 👇
📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
🕗 8:00 am UK | 9:00 am CEST
🕑 2:00 pm UK | 3:00 pm CEST
✅ Free. Registration required.
🔗 https://iswp.org/responsible-wheelchair-donation-toolkit/
#AppropriateWheelchairProvision #ISWP #WheelchairDonation #AssistiveTechnology #WheelchairServices
What makes a wheelchair donation a good donation? 🤔
Wheelchair donations can transform lives, but only when they respond to real needs and are supported by appropriate wheelchair services within a national system. When they don’t, they can cause harm, create waste and leave wheelchair users and local services carrying the cost.
So what does responsible wheelchair donation look like in practice?
Join ISWP on Thursday 22 October for the launch of our new toolkit to support the ethical, safe and effective donation of new and used wheelchairs. 🦽
Hear from wheelchair users, donors, recipient organisations and international assistive technology experts as they share real experiences and practical lessons.
This is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
🕗 Session 1: 8:00 am UK | 9:00 am CEST
🕑 Session 2: 2:00 pm UK | 3:00 pm CEST
✅ Free to attend. Registration required. We’re excited to have a great line-up of speakers at the webinar, including:
🎤 David Constantine
🎤 Karen Reyes, @atscale_partnership
🎤 Emma Smith, WHO Regional Office for Europe
🎤 Cristi Ispas, Motivation Romania
🎤 Joey Tell, RICD Wheelchair Project, Thailand
🔗 Register (link in bio)
#AppropriateWheelchairProvision #ISWP #WheelchairDonation #AssistiveTechnology #WheelchairServices @sittingimages @karenreyescastro @cristi.ispas @fundatia.motivation.romania @colleenfrancis @karakrawat @shonaquip_social_enterprise @shonamcdonald5 @roniquewalters @arnecompernolle @alexkamadu @beppi_83
FREE webinar recordings, thanks to a generous supporter 🎉🎉
Sheila Purvey, one of our wonderful supporters, has kindly funded 10 recordings of Marta Figueiredo`s webinar, Seating and Mobility for Children`s Participation Outcomes, for ISWP members.
If you`d like to take advantage of this member benefit, email info@iswp.org by 30 October. Places are limited, so don`t miss out.
Thank you, Sheila, for helping make learning more accessible!
Ability meets mobility.
#ISWP #Webinar #MemberBenefits #AppropriateWheelchairProvision
ISWP`s resources were proudly showcased at the 2026 China Care & Rehabilitation EXPO (CR EXPO) in Beijing, held in September, sharing our work with the Chinese assistive technology community.
Thank you to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for extending the invitation and making our participation possible, and to the Expo organisers for creating space for international organisations to share their work.
Sharing knowledge across borders helps more people access the right wheelchair and the right support.
#ISWP #CREXPO2026 #AppropriateWheelchairProvision #AssistiveTechnology
We’re excited to share that we now have 1 449 individuals around the world certified at the Basic, Intermediate, or Trainer level. 👏🏻
Recently, we collaborated with Bethany Kids (Kenya), Wheelchair Project (Thailand), and the Spinal Cord Centre (Nepal) together with SESOBEL to deliver Basic level Wheelchair Training and Certifications at basic level in each country.
Thank you to our partners for helping more people access the right wheelchair and the right support.
Ability meets mobility.
#ISWP #AppropriateWheelchairProvision #Certification
