Kirkham Wheelchairs

[David Kirkham]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Well done David. I have worked with organisations for the handicapped for 30 years in Indonesia. Other than design, the main problems are price and maintenance. Let's hope that you come up with something that is a breakthrough.

Thanks for all the kind words guys. If we all pull together and do what we can, then the load is easier for everyone to carry. Hope doesn't come to people with magic wands and rainbows. It has to be brought in the door by someone who can make it happen. We just do what we know how to do. There are plenty of areas where we need other people's help and ideas.

Merv,

I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a more durable and cost effective solution. For example, the Church asked me to design an axle that was easy to replace. I said, "Why not make it from a better steel that doesn't need replacement?" It may cost $2 more (and when you are making 60,000 of them $2 is a big deal), but how much does replacing parts cost? Training? Shipping? Stocking?" Someone has to make it, buy it, sell it, replace it; the list goes on. We haven't even mentioned the human cost of lost mobility which is higher than all the others combined.

I think we need to think out of the box completely. I mean completely. Darren called me on the phone earlier (he works with the disabled) and told me, "Please throw out all the wheelchairs you have in your office and start with a new sheet of paper!" I was thinking the exact same thing.

David