I sequestered myself all day in a cold room, looking out over the even colder looking Charles River, with a wheelchair expert. It was a meeting of a subject matter expert with a process/adult learning expert during which I learned about this extraordinary effort that has been put forth on all continents and by many agencies (including the American government) and individuals to make sure that people who cannot move around on their own, get a wheel chair.
In reality it is much more complicated than that – because many people don’t have wheelchairs, or have wheelchairs that are no good, kludged together with plastic chairs, bicycle wheels and wire, or who have developed terrible sores and postures that will be hard to correct. I know of one such case from close up.
People with wheelchairs, old or new, need service, which is more often than not unavailable. WHO put together a team of experts that pulled together an impressive looking training curriculum that looks finished and complete but it isn’t: one missing piece is helping future trainers to master the resource materials and learn how to teach. That has become my task.
And so, today, I learned from a wheelchair master trainer how I can complement what is already there. I have my marching orders and introductions for more conversations. It is funny how the terms of my engagement are no different than they were yesterday, and yet, they are now full of meaning.
Sylvia's Journal 
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