Maria C Mejia Jaramillo, Manuela Vargas Gonzalez, Juliana Velásquez Gómez, Paulina Restrepo Arango, Carolina Sierra Restrepo, Yesid Montoya Góez
Movement and Independence for children (MOOVIC) is a wheelchair specially designed for kids who have mobility impairments or a spinal cord injury to help them move around easier, promote social inclusion and get used to propulsion of a wheelchair at an early age. In Colombia alone, 34,238 kids between 0 and 4 years old have mobility impairments (Consejería Presidencial para la Primera Infancia, 2013) and many of the families do not have the economic resources to purchase a wheelchair designed for their unique needs (Narváez Tulcán, 2002). The current project assists a two year old child with spina bifida. He could not walk or move without help or supervision and it was difficult for him to interact with other kids at floor level. MOOVIC is a low-cost, floor-level wheelchair that provides security and comfort for the child. Propulsion of the chair is similar to a normal wheelchair so that the transition between this product and a commercial wheelchair is not traumatic. The development of the MOOVIC could improve the quality of life of children who have mobility impairments and spinal cord injury and their families because it is an affordable option that gives kids independence. Also, learning how to propulse the MOOVIC provides a foundation for kids will use a wheelchair for the rest of their life.