Walking Aids, Improving the Life Style of At Risk Disabled.
(A Proposal)

Project Abstract

Disop Social Foundation in Tema, Ghana is seeking support to expand his Walking Aids program with the objective of helping all of our at risk disabled people enhance their social life and to make them more mobile and using the same facilities as their peers. The objective is that by the end of the year 2008 at least 500 disabled people will have a walking aid base on their condition and will have improved their mobility and style of living. The walking aid program is based on the latest research on the conditions and life style of people with disability in some suburb of Ghana. We request your support in supplying us with amount of walking aids that can meet the needs of 500 disable people by the end of the year 2008 and an amount of $3000 for custom charges, repairs, maintenance and training of staff who will be involved in the disbursement of the equipments.

Statement of Need

Dating from the resent survey done from the department of social welfare research shows that there are about 20% out of the total population of 20 million are disable people and out of these percentage there are about 10% - 15% of them in the rural areas. A little over 4% out of these are officially known; those in the rural areas conditions are seen as taboos by their relatives therefore are kept in rooms. Others see disabilities as a misdemeanor and against their tradition and so keep disabled people in deserted places in the communities. About 1% die out of the total population and the causes of their death are traced to be avoidable if appropriate care and attention were given. If care is not taking and appropriate measures taking, these people will continue to suffer since they can not move around to do things for and by themselves.

Program Description

The Disop Walking Aid project will enable at risk disable people to improve their mobility and social lives through utilization of assorted walking aids equipments such as wheelchairs, Crutches, Walking frame, Quad-point, Rollators (rolling walker) etc.The disabled using this innovative walking aids will be able to utilize all the facilities around with little or no help at all. They can go to school on their own and flee from danger. They will become less burdensome on their relatives. They will develop some level of self esteem which will propel them to develop their inherent talent since they will have access to formal or non formal education. Included in the Walking Aid project will be a day of training for the staff on the features and use of the walking aid equipments.

Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Walking Aid Project is to enable people with disabilities especially cripples who do not have walking aids as a result of poverty and are therefore kept indoors and immobile have access to walking aids equipments to improve their life style to the point where they can go to school on their alone and develop their skills that will prepare them to meet their economics need and make meaningful contribution to the society.
Studies have shown that people living with disabilities are likely to suffer more
Especially those in the developing countries where there is no proper policies that
Take care of the needs of people with disabilities. A lot of these people are born to poor families for that matter can not afford these equipments. They are more likely
to be onerous to relatives, forced to the street to beg for arms as a means of survival with all its associated risk. Their talent and visions remains unearth.
The main objectives include:

1. Providing a measurable level of independence, confidence and social influence in the society. The objective is that people with disability will not over rely on their immediate relations for their survival but rather fern for themselves and the society in which they live.

2. Enabling them to access facilities in the society through the use of walking aids that will be provided and attend programs organized in the society.

3. Helping the disabled be regular and stay in school with their peers, so they can continue learning in a least restrictive environment.