Tamara Kittelson-Aldred, with a Peruvian child celebrating the receipt of a wheelchair. (Photo courtesy of Eleanore’s Project and NRRTS Directions)
Eleanore’s Project celebrates what a difference a wheelchair can make in a person’s life, and counts down the days until December 1, known as #GivingTuesday.
The nonprofit organization was founded by Rick Aldred and Tamara Kittelson-Aldred in memory of their youngest daughter, Eleanore, who passed away just before her 12th birthday in 2001, explains the National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS), in a feature on Eleanore’s Project that appeared in NRRTS Directions.
“My life as Eleanore’s mother taught me so much that I didn’t learn in school or as a practicing therapist for 11 years before she was born. Being her mother taught me the passion for empowering families to make changes for their kids,” explains Kittelson-Aldred, an occupational therapist, a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professional, and a Seating and Mobility Specialist, in the NRRTS feature.
Kittelson-Aldred and the rest of Eleanore’s Project take a team of approximately 20 people once a year to Peru to provide wheelchairs to and conduct wheelchair clinics for the Peruvians.
During the clinics, the team teaches the Peruvians appropriate modifications, how to assess wheelchair users for 24-hour postural care, and how to take care of wheelchair repairs and adjustments, according to the NRRTS feature.
During the wheelchair clinic in Peru, team members from Eleanore’s Project work side-by-side with Peruvians to make repairs to wheelchairs. (Photo courtesy of Eleanore’s Project and NRRTS Directions)
The Eleanore’s Project creative team recently created a photo series, called “What Can a Wheelchair Do?”, using photos taken during these demonstration clinics in Peru. A different photo from this series is being posted every day on its Facebook page, leading up to Giving Tuesday on December 1.
For more information, visit Eleanore’s Project.
[Source(s): Eleanore’s Project, National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers]
