Whirlwind Wheelchair, a non-profit organization, builds “real world” wheelchairs for disabled people in third world countries. The organization began a class eight years ago at SF State that teaches students how to construct a chair from scratch that can be used by people in need. The wheelchairs differ from ones donated by other organizations because they are designed to be used on and off the streets. Students study and test out other wheelchairs to get a better understanding of how to make them more usable in everyday life.

Whirlwind has partnered up with Project Homeless Connect in the Bay Area and now donates many of the wheelchairs it produces to homeless in and around San Francisco.