Physical Therapy Students Seek Donations for Wheels for the World

The Clarke University Organization of Student Physical Therapists (COSPT) again seeks donations of used or broken wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or canes.  

COSPT will collect assistive devices from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 26, at the main entrance of Marie Miske Center for Science Inquiry on the Clarke campus. If unable to donate that day, please call (563) 588-6382 to arrange to drop items off in the Physical Therapy office in the main lobby of Catherine Byrne Hall.  

The items will be donated to Wheels for the World. This non-profit organization refurbishes the devices and sends them to countries without access to such devices. Wheels for the World collects the items refurbished by inmates at a correctional facility in Kansas. The wheelchairs are then shipped worldwide, where teams of physical or occupational therapists, wheelchair mechanics, and others assist with distribution. The gift of a wheelchair or other assistive device can transform a person’s life with a disability.  

“Students and staff from Clarke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program have been involved with Wheels For The World for more than 14 years,” said Brad Kruse, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy. “Citizens of Dubuque and the surrounding communities continue to support this charity through their donations, keeping these items out of the landfill while providing for a need for those less fortunate. These donations have supported the mobility needs of individuals in various regions of the world, including Haiti, Central America and Africa.”  

“Wheels for the World provides a tangible way to make a difference by collecting assistive devices and donating them to be refurbished. These assistive devices are eventually given to people who otherwise may not have access to them,” added Doctor of Physical Therapy student Lauren Prier ’23. “It is a great opportunity for students to get involved in a service that can benefit individuals throughout the world. I, along with Clarke University Physical Therapy students, are proud to be involved in the planning and collection of assistive devices through Wheels for the World.”