Wheelie Good Reasons..

There are a huge amount of reasons to use a wheelchair.

People who can *technically* walk - I.E they can actually move their legs, are wheelchair users too. If you see a tiny old lady in a wheelchair, you do not assume that she has lost the use of her legs. Just because some users are younger, this doesn't exclude them!

I occasionally use a wheelchair. I can walk. Some days I can walk very well (if only for short distances) Sometimes I have to use a wheelchair. It is far to pain full (and therefore unsafe) for me to walk even short distances.

Believe me, being an occasional wheelchair user is not something I do for fun, or because I "can't be bothered" walking. Whenever I am in my wheels it means having to constantly ask for assistance - getting into shops, people moving out of my way, cashiers leaning over to pass me things. (or worse - completely ignoring me to speak to my partner) The world is very badly equipped for wheelchair users. It is NOT EASIER. You have to pre-plan where to go, how you are going to get there. Book spaces in advance as many business only have one wheelchair space. No spur of the moment - "Ooh, this looks nice lets go here" you have to Google maps to see the terrain, so see what the floor is made of. And to finish up - you get constant people looking at you, because you "look" fine. I once got a middle aged woman, (I was going to say lady but that would be incorrect...) shout at me for being a fraud and "stealing" someone wheelchair as she saw me stretch my leg out. She said "That's disgusting, have you stolen someone's wheelchair? I've just seen you move so you can obviously walk. You should be ashamed of yourself!"

I was about to defend myself - Depressingly I was going to get out my Blue badge to "prove it to her" but my partner of 6 years who was with me was speaking before I even had a chance to think... She went on to explain that a) I struggle to walk etc and B) IT WAS NONE OF HER DAMN BUSINESS. She went on to explain that she had spent months encouraging me into a wheelchair (having previously been very reluctant for the exact situation that was happening now) she was not about to let some "narrow minded numpty" (I have to admit I was smiling buy this point..) make me feel ashamed for having a body that doesn't work for people whose brains dont work..

So please remember. Wheelchair users are in the chair for a variety of reasons. You wouldn't go and comment on a strangers clothes choice or say you thought they were ugly/pretty see our chairs in the same way - or rather, don't see them. We know about us, and we know why we are in them. You do not. It is not any concern of yours what we do. Just help us by opening doors, and assume we know our bodies best. 