GRIT is a social enterprise startup that designs accessible technologies like the Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) for people with disabilities. The LFC is an all-terrain wheelchair that uses levers instead of wheels, allowing users to move easily on rough terrain and gain independence. GRIT was founded by MIT engineers and works with organizations like Tata Trusts in India to manufacture and distribute the LFC at an affordable price, helping people with limited mobility lead more active lives. Field trials of the LFC show high rates of adoption and customer satisfaction with its performance off road.
2. GRIT – Tata Trusts Collaboration.
Global Research Innovation Technology : www.goGrit.org
GRIT is a social enterprise startup based in Boston, Massachusetts. We believe in a stakeholder driven design process, where the people
who use a technology help to design it. We started as the MIT Mobility Lab where we invented the Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC), a
lever-powered all-terrain wheelchair. After four years of testing the LFC in the field, we founded GRIT in 2012 to bring the LFC to
market. We help people with disabilities get off-road and on with their lives.
GRIT Team :
GRIT was founded by mechanical engineers who met in the MIT Mobility Lab and are passionate about using technology to improve
people's lives
Tata Trusts : www.tatatrusts.org
Jamsetji Tata, the Founder of the Tata group, and his sons Dorab and Ratan, bequeathed much of their personal wealth to the many
trusts they created for the greater good of India and its people. Today the Tata trusts have come to control 66 percent of the shares of
Tata Sons, the promoter holding company of the group.
3. Leverage Freedom Chair. ( LFC)
Product Overview
Enables disabled people in developing countries to move
beyond the pavement .
Provides the ease in mobility they need to lead independent
lives.
Riders pushes levers instead of wheels , which give them torque
to move with ease on rough terrain.
Designed out available materials which can be fixed in local
bicycle repair shop.
Reduces the cost of maintenance and repair unlike the regular
wheel chair. LFC can be repaired at a ordinary bi-cycle repair
shop .
4. Leverage Freedom Chair ( LFC)
.
Adjustable Centre of Gravity
The seat can be slid forward and
backward on the frame to adjust the
center of gravity of chair.
Thus giving the rider better grip and
maneuver the chair’s movement on
rough terrain without losing
balance.
Seat Width
The LFC available in three seat widths.
Smallest Size that allows one put their
open hands between user’s legs and
mud guard.
Replaceable Cushion
LFC comes with a
comfortable cushion.
It can be easily replaced
with standard size pressure
–relief cushions.
5. Leverage Freedom Chair (LFC)
LFC Features and Measurements
Price : 12,000 INR
( excluding all tax components)
6. Leverage Freedom Chair. ( LFC)
Insights on adoption of LFC basis field trials ( 2011- till
date)
40% adoption during the field trials in India in both rural and urban
patients across India.
60% adoption in women during the trials
LFC is 74% faster and 28% more efficient than a conventional wheel chair.
50% more torque than regular conventional wheel chair.
Watch LFC in Action
8. Leverage Freedom Chair (LFC)
Partners
Manufacturing Partner :
LFC is manufactured locally in Pithampur near the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This allows LFC to be distributed locally in India.
NGO Partner :