International Society of Wheelchair Professionals - ISWP

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International Society of Wheelchair Professionals - ISWP

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ISWP's mission is to serve as a global resource for wheelchair service standards and provision through advocacy, education, standards, evidence-based practice, innovation and a platform for information exchange. ISWP’s broad goals are to improve the quality of life of wheelchair users around the world by ensuring they receive high-quality wheelchairs through appropriate provision. Our activities a

re aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, the World Health Organizations’ (WHO) Disability Action Plan, the WHO Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs in Less Resourced Settings, and the WHO’s Wheelchair Services Training Packages. We have four broad activities to strengthen the wheelchair sector:
1) Raise awareness of the need for high quality wheelchairs and related services.
2) Build wheelchair services capacity globally.
3) Set and promote product and service standards.
4) Coordinate the global wheelchair sector.

08/24/2026

Missed It live? Now you can catch up.
Ruben Moreno's webinar recording, 'Anticipating Possible and Probable Postural Events', is now available for purchase!
This session explores how clinicians can move from reacting to postural challenges to anticipating them before they become severe or irreversible, covering key indicators of future postural deterioration, the link between seating decisions and long-term musculoskeletal outcomes, and practical strategies for earlier, more proactive intervention.
If you missed it live, this is your chance to access these insights on your own time. 👉
Purchase the recording: https://iswp.org/events/
Ability meets mobility.

08/19/2026

In humanitarian crises, people with mobility impairments, especially wheelchair users, face heightened risks of injury, neglect, and exclusion from response systems. Right now, that reality is playing out for millions affected by the crises.

On World Humanitarian Day, ISWP is calling on the humanitarian community to make appropriate wheelchair provision a core part of crisis response, not an afterthought.

Read our full position statement: https://iswp.org/position-statements/

Together, we are stronger.

08/17/2026

For over a decade, the ISWP community has been working together to strengthen wheelchair provision around the world.

But the true impact isn't found in numbers alone.
It's found in the provider who gained new skills. The organisation that trained a new workforce. The wheelchair user who gained independence. The family whose daily life changed for the better.

These are the stories that inspire action.

If you've been part of the ISWP community, as a wheelchair user, provider, trainer, organisation, or partner, we'd love to hear from you!

🎥 Record a 20-30 second video
📸 Share a photo
✍️ Write a short story

Send your story to [email protected] or tag ISWP on social media.

For more info:https://iswp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ISWP-Share-your-impact-story-.pdf

Together, we can show why appropriate wheelchair provision matters and why investing in people, training, and systems changes lives.

08/13/2026

REMINDER! Less than a month to go! Join us on Wednesday, September 9 at 11:00 GMT for our next ISWP webinar.

'Seating and Mobility for Children's Participation Outcomes', presented by Marta Figueiredo.

This session explores how seating and mobility interventions shape children's participation, focusing on attendance, involvement, engagement, and functional performance in everyday life.

With over 20 years of international experience in paediatrics, rehabilitation, and assistive technology, Marta brings deep clinical and research expertise supporting children with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities.

Her work bridges evidence and practice to improve participation outcomes through effective wheelchair provision and positioning solutions.

💲 Fee: $15 USD (15% discount for ISWP paid members)

👉 Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3-3Ig3U0JUCHg_NPbQuTPae8U4fIXslJmAYQmn6VQKJUNFFCSFVLUlBQOUQwMkFZSDJXSVNKMjc1Vy4u

We look forward to welcoming you!

08/11/2026

The Wheelchair Educators' Package (WEP) is here to help educators integrate wheelchair content into your curriculum across all 3 stages of integration: advocating, planning & teaching, and evaluating.

By strengthening wheelchair-specific content in your courses, you're helping build a competent future workforce of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Prosthetics & Orthotics professionals at the basic wheelchair service provision level.

Explore the updated WEP: https://wep.iswp.org/

Together, we are stronger.

08/06/2026

ISWP is deeply grateful to The Veterans United Foundation for their generous donation supporting our mission to expand access to appropriate wheelchairs and improve lives around the world.

This generosity is made possible by Veterans United Home Loans employees, whose personal contributions, matched dollar-for-dollar by the company, fuel everything the Foundation does.

To every employee whose giving helps make work like this possible: thank you!

About The Veterans United Foundation: Founded by Veterans United Home Loans employees in 2011, the Foundation gives back to veterans and military families through partnerships with nonprofits nationwide. Fueled by employee contributions matched dollar-for-dollar by the company, it has raised over $155 million to date.

08/04/2026

ISWP Argentina launches at Expo-Ortopedica on August 5 & 6, 2026 in Buenos Aires, and we cannot wait to welcome you!

As our first-ever chapter, ISWP Argentina gives you a way to connect with the wheelchair provision community locally, in Spanish, while staying linked to a global network working toward the same goal: getting appropriate wheelchairs and services to everyone who needs them.

Sign up as a member at the launch and get 10% off, available only at Expo-Ortopedica during the event.

See you in Buenos Aires!

07/31/2026

Introducing ISWP Argentina, our first-ever chapter!

We are thrilled to launch ISWP Argentina, the very first chapter in ISWP's growing global community. Argentina is leading the way as our pilot chapter, and we cannot wait to see this community take shape.

Where: Expo-Ortopedica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
When: August 5 & 6, 2026

If you are attending, this is your moment to be part of something new from day one. Join us at Expo-Ortopedica to celebrate the launch, connect with fellow professionals and learn how to get involved with ISWP Argentina.

Together, we are stronger.

07/23/2026

Together, we're strengthening the global wheelchair workforce. 🎉

ISWP continues to partner with organisations around the world to support wheelchair service provision training at the Basic and Intermediate levels.

Today, we're proud to celebrate more than 1,300 individuals who are certified at the Basic, Intermediate, and/or Trainer level through ISWP's certification programme.

Every newly certified professional represents another step towards ensuring wheelchair users have access to appropriate, high-quality services.

Would your organisation like to help expand access to training and build local workforce capacity? We'd love to hear from you.

📧 Contact us at [email protected] to learn how you can fund and support future training opportunities.

07/22/2026

July is Disability Pride Month. This year's theme, "The World Works Better With Us," is a reminder we live every day: when people with disabilities who use wheelchairs are included, properly assessed, and given equipment that actually fits, whole communities benefit, not just the individual. 🌍

Disability Pride also marks the anniversary of the American Disability Act, signed July 26, 1990, a milestone for disability rights worldwide.

This month, we're celebrating the wheelchair users, clinicians, and advocates who advocate for and make appropriate wheelchair provision possible every day.

Address

6425 Penn Avenue, Ste 402
Pittsburgh, PA
15206

Website

http://linktr.ee/ISWPorg

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