October 16, 2001
Emergency wheelchair services and repairs will be available, effective Nov. 1, on weekends, after business hours and on statutory holidays through the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities’ (SMD) Wheelchair Services, with the support of Manitoba Health.
"This has been a long-standing concern for Manitobans with disabilities who ended up being stranded if their wheelchairs required repairs outside of business hours," said Health Minister Dave Chomiak. "I’m delighted that such a necessary service will now be available through our respected community partner, the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities."
"We are very pleased that Minister Chomiak has committed additional resources to the Manitoba Community Wheelchair Program. The opportunity to provide additional hours of emergency service allows us to better meet our goals of enabling Manitobans with disabilities to remain independent and mobile in our community," said Ray Fulford, director of wheelchair services for SMD.
The SMD has a recyclable pool of wheelchairs to distribute, maintain and repair for Manitobans who require wheelchairs based on medical need. This year, the Manitoba Community Wheelchair Program will provide over 10,000 manual wheelchairs and over 800 motorized wheelchairs on loan to Manitoba residents. Manitoba Health provides $1.2 million to SMD to operate the program and invests approximately $860,000 in the purchase of new chairs each year.
Part of the funds will support the after hours services, providing a technician, clerical support, vans and wheelchair parts to make necessary repairs and adjustments for Manitobans who are part of the program.
Tim Sale, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, noted, "This vital program continues to improve as a good example of the disability support services envisioned in Full Citizenship, our Manitoba provincial strategy on disability released earlier this year."
Effective April 1, 2002, the program will become part of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority which will administer the program on behalf of the province and other regional health authorities. This ensures strong linkages with the clinical expertise and supports required to assess medical needs to provide appropriate wheelchairs for people who need the program.
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