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^^^~~~ Introduction: Sri Lanka Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (SLFRD) is registered as a voluntary organization under the Ministry of Social Services, and it is herein after called the SLFRD in this project report. SLFRD obtained the certificate of registration for voluntary organizations under section 20 of the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. No. 28 of 1996. The SLFRD was started by a group of young disabled persons. The aim of this young group was to develop this organization by providing their services, knowledge and time voluntarily and works for the development of the disabled people in Sri Lanka. The above organization was started on 27th July 1988 with a membership of 65 disabled persons. All these persons were working either in the public or private sector.
^^^~~~We give below the objectives of this organization~~~^^^
• To find employment for the disabled young boys and girls.
• To stand for the rights of the disabled persons
• To assist and improve the education of disabled boys and girls
• To improve their talents (skills and sports)
• To support all disabled persons who try to stand on their own feet
We are very happy that we had been very successful in making our voice heard locally and internationally on behalf of the disabled persons in Sri Lanka. At the very inception our office was established at the premises of the Colombo Friend in Need Society. We were there for four years. At the moment our office is at Rehab Lanka premises, which was started by the Rotary Club of Colombo as a vocational training centre for the disabled. It was later closed down as they could not manage it properly. At this juncture the our patron Ms. Swarna Ferdinand, and the then President Mr. Premadasa Dissanayake and Vice President Mr.Cyril Siriwardena met the President of the Colombo Rotary Club Dr. Rienzi Peiris and requested him to hand over Rehab Lanka to SLFRD. As per their request Rehab Lanka was officially handed over to SLFRD on 17th October 1991. Rotary Club handed over to us all the machinery and equipment along with their trade name “Rehab Lanka” on 22nd November 1991. The objective of the founder members of the SLFRD was to build a useful community to the country, giving a new meaning to their disabled lives by providing them with employment. It should be mentioned that this handing over was a blessing to our Board to fulfill its objectives. Accordingly we started with a work force of five people. There after within a short time, income generating sections like garments, welding, leather, carpentry, lathe work and painting were added, and naturally the work force also increased gradually.
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^^^~~~Beginning of Rehab Lanka: After the take over of Rehab Lanka by SLFRD, we started producing mobility aids for the disabled people in Sri Lanka. Accordingly a welding section for the young disabled boys and a garment factory for the young disabled girls were started. Today we are one of the proud organizations that manufacture any equipment required by the disabled community in Sri Lanka according to set standards. The specialty is that all these equipment are manufactured by the disabled persons themselves. Any disabled person could get any suitable disable equipment manufactured to his disability, according to the prescribed standard from Rehab Lanka.
^^^~~~How orders were acquired to Rehab Lanka: As we established ourselves as a production organization, we started obtaining orders to the welding unit and the garment section in 1992.We got registered ourselves as a supplier of goods and services under the ministries, departments and even under the private sector organizations. We submit tenders and quotations and obtain orders from these organizations. Local Non Governmental Organizations as well as International Non Governmental Organizations are giving orders to us.
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^^^~~~ Metal Workshop: is the major revenue generator for the organization. In this unit job opportunities has given to the disable boys.
^^^~~~Products of Metal Workshop~~~^^^
^^^~~~ Wheel Chairs: Wheel chairs are one of the main products of Rehab Lanka. Normal wheel chairs are available in two types, Folding wheel chair and Non folding wheel chair. These wheel chairs designed in accordance with the Sri Lanka Wheel Chair Standards Testing Guidelines. We are also making Dancing wheel chairs, Tennis wheel chairs, Commode Wheel chairs and hospital wheel chairs as requested by the customers.
^^^~~~ Special Wheel chairs: We started Special Wheel chair project in February 2008 with the guidance of Motivation Charitable Trust.
^^^~~~ We are making 3 kinds of special wheel chairs
* Supportive Seating Wheel chair
* Kiddies wheel Chair
* Active wheel Chair
Supportive Seating and Kiddies wheel chairs are for the use of children between 11/2 to 12 years. These wheel chairs fitted with special seating system and seat cushions. The wheel chair fits the child well and provides postural support. The special features of this chair provide stability and encourage a good sitting position. Correctly designed cushion provides additional stability to the user. Our Supportive Seating and Kiddies Wheel chairs are sending to the South Africa, Maldive Islands and India through Motivation Charitable Trust.
^^^~~~ Active Wheel chair: with front wheel can ride rural areas, muddy roads or even in the sea shore. This wheel chair is very popular among disabled soldiers. There is big demand from Ranaviru Sevana for the Active wheel chair.
^^^~~~ Easy Go Tricycle: With the technical support of Motivation, Rehab Lanka produced a new hand-powered tricycle. This tricycle was introduced to Sri Lanka under the name “Easy Go Tricycle”. SLFRD obtained a Certificate of Registration on June 8th 2004 for Industrial design which was issued under Section 38 of the Code of Intellectual Property Act No. 52 of 1979 for the Easy Go Tricycle. This tricycle was designed for outdoor use in the city or village. It is specially designed for conditions in Sri Lanka and easy to use and maintain. It can be made for left or right handed people and uses standard bicycle spare parts. Within a short time it became the most popular vehicle among the disable people in Sri Lanka .and the demand for it was tremendous. Easy Go Tricycle is popular not only among Sri Lankans but also among the disable people in Maldive Islands. There is a big demand from Maldive Island for this Tricycle. These tricycle users can do some income generating activity like selling lottery tickets.
^^^~~~ Standing Frame: is an item which prescribed for the children who find difficult to sit up without a support. This standing Frame was designed with the instructions of British Technicians. Samples are available at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital. In these hospitals patients are doing exercises by using Standing Frames. If it is highly needed doctors are prescribed to do the exercises regularly. We are making it for the individual measurements as per doctor’s prescription. This standing frame helps to minimize the disability status of the users. Rehab Lanka is the only place that any one can buy a standing frame. It is not available at any other place in Sri Lanka.
^^^~~~ Mobility Equipments: Under this we are manufacturing Arm crutches (Aluminium & Wooden) Elbow crutches (Steel & Aluminium). These crutches are adjustable.
^^^~~~Walking frames and Walkers are making for the request of the patients.
^^^~~~ Other Products: Other than these main products we are manufacturing Bunker beds, Grills and Gates, Selling Carts, Hospital Equipment such as Beds, Patient Trolleys, Bed side Cupboards.
^^^~~~ Any other Metal Equipment required by the customer~~~^^^
