Executive Summary
People with disabilities are among the most marginalized worldwide, with children at an even higher risk of stigma, abuse, neglect and death. Although 38 million need prosthetics or orthotics (P&Os) annually, less than 10% are able to access them. Without these assistive devices, people with physical impairments are unable to go to school, gain employment or even conduct daily living activities and engage with their communities – resulting in a cycle of disability and poverty. By disrupting traditional P&O production methods using 3D printing technology, this project can dramatically improve device availability. Access to devices alone, however, will not solve this crisis. By creating Centers of Excellence that will not only produce and fit devices but also facilitate ability-centered initiatives for children and adults with disabilities to learn and develop, this project will dismantle discrimination and foster empowerment. Integrating inclusive programming into existing learning platforms will ensure wider systems.
Charity, fund, non-governmental organization, religious institution, school, or other entity
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COVID-19 Response
Hope and Healing has shifted most staff to working remotely; however, the office remains open for essential staff. Regular programs have pivoted to COVID-19 prevention and control for vulnerable populations. Hope and Healing and their partners are focusing on lessening costs due to budget constrictions, and are limiting nonessential travel, trainings, and contract work, and are focused on maintaining financial viability. Few changes to the proposal are expected, though decreased donor support is possible, and there may be some aspects of the project that would shift to being done remotely. Changes to barrier assessment/risk mitigation include: corrective and rehabilitation services are considered nonurgent and may affect their work, to be mitigated by a search for disability-focused funding; and another barrier is that people with disabilities are at higher risk with COVID-19, to be lessened by the use of PPE and infection prevention measure, and lastly COVID-19 presents a new financial risk, to be managed by additional fundraising and increased awareness.
