The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Wheelchair Service Training Packages (WSTP) are at the foundation of MA’s wheelchair service training courses. MA training programmes use the WHO methodology in teaching safe, appropriate and sustainable approach to wheelchair service provision in our region.
Where did the training packages come from? A key document that was developed by the WHO to guide the sector was the WHO Guidelines on the provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings, published in 2008. The Guidelines recognised that while the wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enabling personal mobility, there were very few training opportunities for service providers to ensure that wheelchair users can attain personal mobility with the greatest possible independence, be productive and enjoy a high quality of life.
Basic and intermediate level training courses were developed to assist services to implement the Wheelchair Guidelines, by giving the opportunity for wheelchair service personnel in less resourced settings to be trained in comprehensive wheelchair service provision and enable increasing numbers of adults and children to receive a wheelchair which meets their needs.
WHO also recognises that trained personnel require support from managers and national stakeholders to ensure appropriate wheelchair provision is established and sustained within a country. To raise awareness and promote good practice, WHO developed a training package for managers, and a training package for stakeholders.
Links for download
Wheelchair Service Training Package – basic (WSTPb): designed to support the training of personnel to provide an appropriate manual wheelchair and cushion for adults and children who have mobility impairments but can sit upright without additional postural support.
Wheelchair Service Training Package – intermediate (WSTPi): designed to support the training of personnel to provide an appropriate manual wheelchair and cushion for adults and children who need additional postural support to sit upright.
Wheelchair Service Training Package – managers (WSTPm): designed to guide managers to effectively support appropriate wheelchair provision. This includes raising awareness among stakeholders and promoting their involvement in establishing appropriate wheelchair provision in their country/region. It can be delivered in a minimum of two days.
Wheelchair Service Training Package – stakeholders (WSTPs): designed to create awareness and develop the skills and knowledge of all stakeholders in establishing appropriate wheelchair provision in their country/region.
Wheelchair Service Training Package – Training of Trainers (WSTPtot): designed to develop the skills and knowledge of trainers to be able to deliver the WSTPb, WSTPi, WSTPm or WSTPs.