Over 60 people with disabilities participated in the mobility and health in a wheelchair caravan organized by Motivation Romania Foundation in a first stage, in 7 counties in the country: Ilfov, Neamț, Iași, Galați, Buzău, Satu Mare and Timiș.
For August, another 5 events are planned in the counties of Prahova, Oradea, Cluj, Argeș and Sibiu. The last 3 events of this year’s caravan will take place in September, in the counties of Constanța, Mehedinți and Brașov.
At these events, participants have access to innovative services and high-performance mobility and assistive equipment to help improve their health and encourage them to become active and independent persons again.
One of the innovative systems presented to wheelchair users in the caravan is the BodiTrak system. It allows the identification of areas on the surface of the skin prone to the risk of bedsores due to improper mobility equipment. Based on this assessment, the wheelchair and cushion can be adjusted according to the individual needs of the user, thus preventing the occurrence of these serious injuries. In Romania, Motivation Foundation is the only organization that uses this evaluation system based on new technology.
During these events there is also a practical training on the correct technique of intermittent catheterization, with the help of a mannequin. This technique is useful for preventing urinary tract infections.
The mobility and health caravan in a wheelchair presents the participants with aspects related to accessibility and mobility, the rights of people with disabilities and how to access them, useful tools in self-representation and employment. Such tools are the two free mobile applications, MotiActiv and Panoul de Bord, as well as the “Guide for the rights of people with disabilities using wheelchairs”.
The wheelchair mobility and health caravan takes place within the project “Advocacy for community access for wheelchair users”, implemented by Motivation Romania Foundation in partnership with Segoia Association, with the financial support of Active Citizens Fund Romania, a program funded by Iceland , Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021.
We work together for an inclusive Europe.
****
About Active Citizens Fund Romania
The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.
About Motivation Romania Foundation
Motivation Romania Foundation is a non-profit organization, created in 1995 to support children and adults with disabilities. The services offered cover a wide range of needs, from assessment and adapted equipment for different types of mobility disabilities, to active recovery and training for independent living with a wheelchair instructor, advice for spaces accessibility and adapted sports. So far, Motivation has restored freedom of movement and hope in a fulfilled life for more than 25,800 people with disabilities in Romania. More information on www.motivation.ro.
About Segoia Association
Segoia Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, created in 2017, concerned with the development of civil society, promotion of democratic values, open government and citizen involvement through technology. More information on: https://segoia.ro.