Facts About People in Wheelchairs
According to Dizabled.com, approximately 25 million people in the world have mobility problems, and about 500,000 of these people use wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can be electronic or operated manually and custom-designed for sports or individual lifestyles. The advantage of a wheelchair is increased mobility for its user, providing a method for getting around that may not otherwise be possible.
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Etiquette
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Some wheelchair users view their wheelchairs as an extension of their body, not just an object for mobility. It is disrespectful to touch or handle someone's wheelchair; it would be comparable to touching their body. Unless you have prior consent from a wheelchair user, do not attempt to handle the equipment, particularly if you do not know the user. You may offer assistance, but never force it.
Identification
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People use wheelchairs for many reasons, and the wheelchair use may be temporary or permanent. People born without legs, or those who have lost their legs due to an accident, may use a wheelchair. People with weak leg muscles or leg joints may use wheelchairs. Spinal or brain injuries and disease can also lead to a person becoming a wheelchair user. Occasionally, people who are recovering from an illness or operation will use a wheelchair for a short time as well.
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Sports
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The Paralympic Games, sometimes mistakenly called the Wheelchair Olympics, were officially established in Toronto in 1976. The Games are similar to the Olympics and held during the same year. Summer events for wheelchair athletes in the Paralympic Games include racing, rugby, basketball, dancing, fencing and tennis. In winter, wheelchair athletes compete in curling. Athletes are divided into groups based on level of ability and function. Organized sports such as wheelchair basketball, fishing and hunting are also popular with wheelchair users, with thousands of participants around the world.
Considerations
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When talking to a wheelchair user, address him or her directly and avoid saying offensive words like cripple or tragic. Telling someone in a wheelchair that he or she is brave can be patronizing; the topic of conversation should not be the wheelchair. Additionally, the phrase wheelchair user is more acceptable than wheelchair-bound. During conversation, sit down so you and the wheelchair user are at the same eye level; it can cause a person strain to look up for extended periods of time.
Misconceptions
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Some, but not all, wheelchair users may be unable to have children. Another myth is that wheelchair users cannot drive; specially designed technology makes it possible for some wheelchair users to drive cars. The international symbol of accessibility is a white wheelchair user on a blue background. Despite increased awareness, the presence of this symbol does not always mean that a building is adequately accessible. Wheelchair users still face many obstacles when using ramps or handicapped parking.
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References
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Comments
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This is the kind of basic stuff I'd like to see taught in elem. school. I'm so sick of people saying I'm brave. What, they expect me to commit suicide because I use a chairiot to get around? It's just life. Some people wear glasses; to me, it's basically the same thing (except, when you wear glasses, nobody steals your parking spot!)
