International Wheelchair Day 2024

On By Katy DalyIn Disability Pride ♿️, My Disability Truth

So today is International Wheelchair Day 2024.

And funnily enough I’ve just had my wheelchair fixed. My wheels bring me freedom, I’d be stuck without them. They are the reason I get to be a person.

But the truth is the world isn’t built for people like me. It’s difficult using a wheelchair, because of the inaccessibility around me. Being in a wheelchair takes a lot of effort and planning just to get out of the house some days. Memorising routes and hoping nothing is going to block them. Not being able to go to concerts and have the same experiences as everyone else.

But without a wheelchair I wouldn’t even have the freedom I do now. Yet growing up as was told I needed to do as much as possible, to not become “wheelchair shaped”. Despite this being my eventuality and it causing a considerable amount of discomfort to attempt to delay it.

Using a wheelchair isn’t bad. Not walking isn’t bad. Mobility aids and physio need to be given for the best outcome of the individual, and not simply to push someone towards the societal norms that can actually be damaging to them.

Wheelchairs are not bad.
Mine is a life saver

Image Description: This picture shows myself facing the camera in my wheelchair with Imogen Ava Daly sat on my right and Bella sat on my left. Both dogs are looking at the camera.
Image Description: This picture is art by @Colourblind_Zebr. It’s shows a purple manual wheelchair with the text “My wheelchair is my FREEDOM not my PRISON”, with freedom and prison written in rainbow.
Image Description: This picture shows a picture of me slightly in the distance, on an angle facing left but looking towards the camera. Bella is stood in front of me, and Imogen is stood behind me with her front paws on my knee. We are all looking at the camera.

Leave a comment