Women Pushing Forward

Women Pushing Forward (formerly Whirlwind Women of the SFSU Foundation), became a project of the The Tides Center in January 2004. 

What We Do

Our Mission: To enable women with disabilities around the world to increase wheeled mobility options for themselves and others through collaborations involving wheelchair building, mentoring and support.

Our Goals:

• To provide technical assistance for philanthropic organizations to improve their wheelchair donation programs in developing countries, and also to increase the impact of their efforts.  For example: A girl who receives a wheelchair and also receives training in independent living and accessibility options being able to participate fully in the society.
• To be a bridge between wheelchair donors and the final recipients, to promote gender equality when receiving the wheelchairs and opening income generation opportunities for women with disabilities from rural areas.
• To collaborate with partner organizations to accommodate the critical needs of women wheelchair riders: Prevention of pressure sores, health and reproduction,  wheelchair use, cushions, carrying an infant and provisions, or raising/lowering the seat for cooking, cleaning, and child-tending.
• To train women in basic wheelchair and disability related topics including: types of wheelchairs, seating, tool use and wheelchair maintenance, basic repairs and modifications.  Also to broaden their skills to apply to a wider range of job opportunities involving--or not involving--wheelchairs.
• To empower disabled women and girls to succeed in reaching their goals, wherever they live and whatever their aspirations may be.
• To persuade established wheelchair production plants in the developing world and elsewhere to listen to the needs of their clients and improve their designs and build good quality wheelchairs.

Successful Projects Around the World!

• UGANDA
• MEXICO
• THAILAND
• COLOMBIA
• USA

Verizon

The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

The American Association of University Women, through a Community Action Grant

The True North Foundation

Three Guineas Fund
Flora Family Foundation
Global Fund for Women
The Catalyst Foundation
East Bay Community Foundation: Maxwell Blake Fund
River Road Unitarian Church
The Church of the Holy Spirit
Johnson & Johnson

Greenville Foundation

The Sister Fund

Open Meadows Foundation

WMAE Foundation

Threshold Foundation

Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation

Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations

The Skoll Community Fund