Dominican Republic
Children with Disabilities
In April, Hogar Immanuel, Mustard Seed Communities’ home in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, received a life-changing delivery: 42 new, custom-fit wheelchairs for children and adults living with physical and developmental disabilities.
The wheelchairs were created in partnership with Beeline Wheelchairs, a Guatemala-based company known for producing innovative chairs that navigate rough terrain. Their design is especially effective for Hogar Immanuel, where children move across outdoor paths and myriad surfaces throughout the day.
This effort began in January, when staff at Hogar Immanuel took detailed measurements of each resident. Our team sent the measurements to Beeline, where every chair was built to fit the individual’s posture and physical needs. DHL generously shipped the wheelchairs from Guatemala to Puerto Plata, where they arrived in April. Funding for the wheelchairs came through a grant from the Rotary Clubs of the Dominican Republic and Orlando, Florida.
Once the wheelchairs arrived, a medical mission team from Sharing Smiles, an outreach group that has been collaborating with MSC Dominican Republic for over ten years, joined staff on site to retrofit the chairs and ensure each child was properly fitted. Sharing Smiles specializes in connecting skilled individuals like physical therapists with organizations in developing nations, enabling them to share their knowledge of excellent medical care. This visit, Sharing Smiles brought their expertise to the wheelchair fitting process, making sure each resident received the adjustments they needed for optimal support and comfort.
For children with complex medical conditions, a custom wheelchair offers far more than mobility. These chairs are designed to support each child’s body in a way that reduces pain, encourages proper posture, and allows them to engage more fully in daily life. Because residents use their wheelchairs so actively and consistently, the equipment naturally experiences wear and tear over time. As each individual grows and their needs evolve, new chairs are typically needed every five to seven years.
These new wheelchairs help us uphold the quality of care we strive to provide every day. We are grateful to Beeline Wheelchairs, DHL, Sharing Smiles, and the Rotary Club who helped make this possible. Their generosity means the residents of Hogar Immanuel are safer, more comfortable, and able to thrive with greater dignity.