Free Wheelchair Mission   

In 1979, Don Schoendorfer took a trip to Morocco and witnessed a moment that would change his life: a woman dragging herself across a dirt road while dodging traffic. He soon realized that her experience was not unusual. Physical disability is a pressing issue globally, with many people in developing countries unable to afford the care and mobility aids they need. Schoendorfer utilized his MIT PhD in biomechanical engineering to develop a cost-effective, durable wheelchair from materials common in developing countries: plastic lawn chairs and bicycle tires. The resulting design, the iconic GEN_1 wheelchair, became the basis for FWM, founded in 2001. Free Wheelchair Mission is now the world’s largest nonprofit manufacturer of wheelchairs designed for the developing world. To date, we have distributed more than 1.4 million wheelchairs in 95 countries. We collaborate with humanitarian organizations, non-profit or government agencies, and religious or civic groups to solve real world problems utilizing biomechanical engineering to create cost effective mobility solutions. FWM is bringing transformation that opens doors to education, employment opportunities, and community that these individuals only dreamed of before receiving the gift of mobility. The impact of a wheelchair offers independence, opportunity, and access to resources that promote self-reliance, dignified transportation, and social connection.