(Los Angeles, CA August 16, 2018) UCP Wheels for Humanity (UCP Wheels) has received $4 million in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support phase two of CLASP, a program that improves the availability of, and access to, appropriate wheelchairs and promotes appropriate provision globally. The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Consolidating Logistics for Assistive Technology Supply and Provision (CLASP II) will expand the CLASP product range based on the recommendations of a product advisory council, and promote quality service provision so that buyers understand the critical importance of providing wheelchairs that are appropriate to the unique needs of each user.
Organizations wishing to donate wheelchairs globally, or provide access to more than one type of wheelchair, have faced huge challenges caused by the complexities of sourcing and shipping appropriate chairs, often facing issues of limited supply, complex logistics and long delays. In recognition of these challenges, UCP Wheels has built a system for consolidating and transporting wheelchairs from multiple manufacturers worldwide, centralizing everything in one location – the CLASP Hub – situated in Shanghai, China. To-date CLASP has supplied wheelchairs to organizations in 30 countries.
In addition to increasing the product range, CLASP II will increase the number of CLASP Service Partners from 14 to 20. These service providers have demonstrated capacity for quality service provision and will be required to follow World Health Organization standards, including conducting an assessment and custom fitting so that each wheelchair is correctly adjusted to meet the user’s needs.
“The first phase of CLASP addressed the issue of people with disabilities worldwide not receiving wheelchairs that met their personal needs,” says UCP Wheels Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ronald Cohen. “CLASP II will allow UCP Wheels to expand the range of wheelchairs and related products, and also provide donor organizations with a pre-existing support network of vetted service partners, without having to construct or manage that network themselves.”
For more information on CLASP, including the current product range and regional service providers visit: claspprimary.wpengine.com.
About UCP Wheels for Humanity
A subsidiary of United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, UCP Wheels for Humanity was founded in 1996 to increase access to mobility for children and adults with physical disabilities who live in less-resourced countries. UCP Wheels provides mobility, therapy and empowerment programs and acts as an advocate and capacity-building partner to local organizations, creating sustainable, community-based systems that support long-term change. For more information, visit www.ucpwheels.org.