Karen Rispin
I grew up in Kenya and went on to teach at LeTourmeau University where I led Wheels Project doing research on assistive technology for low resource countries and was involved in the development and validation of patient-based outcomes measures. Wheelchair companies received data on the efficacy of their chairs. BethanyKids, our partner in Kenya, received wheelchairs, and my students got a hands-on international experience and were published.
When the World Health Organization indicated disability was a rapidly growing global health problem, USAID grants were issued. Because few others were publishing independent field studies done in low-resource countries, I was invited to be part of WHO and USAID committees. Becoming familiar with available resources for training, funds and appropriate wheelchairs and other assistive technology, linking those resources with mission hospitals became a central focus and we began the Assistive Technology Catalyst Project.
