Turtle Wheelchair

I like to joke about the two speeds on my wheelchair, “turtle” and “rabbit.” “Turtle” means going slow, and I hardly ever put my wheelchair on that speed.  But the other day I heard about an actual turtle who needed, you guessed it, a wheelchair. No one is quite sure how this little guy broke his shell, but an employee of the Maryland Zoo found him in a nearby park. The zoo veterinarians were able to patch the shell together, but it needs time to mend. And – this is the difficult part – the shell must not touch the ground while it heals. So, the veterinarians had an idea: ask a Lego enthusiast to build a wheelchair to meet the Box Turtle’s needs! A little Lego wheelchair! You have got to love that.

This same out-of-the-box thinking is required when it comes to meeting needs brought on by disability. No, the answers won’t always involve Legos, but if you were on a Wheels for the World team, it’d be close. Our volunteer team members use similar problem-solving skills when fitting disabled children or adults with unusual seating problems. These disabled individuals come to our Wheels outreach locations, desperately in need of a wheelchair, but no two needs are exactly alike. And so, our volunteer physical therapists, occupational therapists, mechanics and support personnel, work to meet each unique and specialized need. Whether it’s shortening a foot rest, adding lateral supports, or devising a headrest, our team of volunteers does what it takes to fit each wheelchair exactly to the needs of the person. Do you like creative problem solving? Then we’d love to have you join a Wheels for the World team—Legos not required!