These pediatric wheelchairs are a fraction of the cost thanks to 3D printing

For decades, pediatric mobility device use has been constrained by high costs, insurance barriers, and the need for specialized manufacturing. Now, New Orleans nonprofit MakeGood, the winner of the 2026 Innovation by Design award in accessible design, is using 3D printing to expand access to devices for children with conditions that make independent movement difficult. Rather than producing a conventional manual wheelchair, MakeGood created a colorful plastic wheelchair-like mobility trainer designed for children ages 1 to 8 with conditions such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, or who have experienced extended stays in neonatal intensive care. It can be made locally for a few hundred dollars with consumer-grade 3D printers. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/09\/2026-IBD_social-share-2-16x9-1.jpg","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/09\/2026-IBD_social-share-1-1-1x1-1.jpg","eyebrow":"","headline":"Meet the world\u0027s most innovative design companies","dek":"","subhed":"","description":"","ctaText":"See t…