Per Axbom
@axbom@axbom.me  ·  activity timestamp last week

Something to always be aware of: Many wheelchair users can stand and move around for brief periods of time. Not all wheelchair users are paralysed. Reasons for wheelchair use are numerous and varied.

Some wheelchair users choose not to stand in public because chances are they will be chastised and harassed if they do. With more awareness and understanding this risk can hopefully diminish over time.

For example, if a wheelchair user is able to retrieve their own wheelchair from the boot/trunk of their car, this does not mean they are ”faking”, and accusing them of this is ableist in itself.

”Ambulatory wheelchair user” is something you can search for to learn more, as many are sharing their experiences online, like Lauren:

https://www.rareyouthrevolution.com/post/ten-things-i-wish-you-knew-from-an-ambulatory-wheelchair-user

#accessibility#wheelchair#ambulatory
Karsten Schmidt
@toxi@mastodon.thi.ng replied  ·  activity timestamp last week
@axbom On the first day of my civil service training/induction, we were driven to the center of town and had to spend 6 hours in a wheelchair, alone, strangers in a new city, forcing everyone to feel the challenges first hand and for us to develop some basic empathy for our time ahead as carers (most of the group). Quickly learning how much we take for granted, experiencing the lack of accessibility in urban environments/infrastructure, also learning to be brave having to ask others for help in some situations... It was an extremely humbling experience and I still think exercises like that should be part of general education!