20 Things People In Wheelchairs Have To Deal With

211005 tousda blog feature image

If you are not a wheelchair user, you will barely understand the daily obstacles wheelchair users encounter regularly.

As a wheelchair user, you have to have patience and be prepared for the unusual and unforeseen at all times.

There are specifically 20 things people in wheelchairs have to deal with regularly.

 

1, Outshining Your Wheelchair

In public places, wheelchair users encounter strangers just like everyone else. Unfortunately, most people see a wheelchair instead of the person sitting in it.

As a wheelchair user, you will find yourself trying to get people’s attention instead of your wheelchair hogging all of the focus.

 

2, Constant Stress of the Wheelchair Tipping Over

This is a common issue that wheelchair users experience at home and in public.

It’s scary to think that a small bump or unseen pebble can easily and quickly tip the wheelchair over, and the user ends up on the floor.

Wheelchair users are constantly on the lookout for surfaces that can be dangerous.

 

3, Elevators Breaking Down

Whether you live in an apartment or work in a building above the first floor, the fact that an elevator can break down at any moment is stressful.

For a wheelchair user, you are stranded unless someone is willing to help carry you down or up flights of stairs and bring your wheelchair along with you.

 

4, Shouting for Attention

Since wheelchair users are lower than eye level to non-users, they often have to shout for attention.

This happens at stores, bars, grocery stores and every public place around.

It’s especially scary when you feel people don’t see you and could bump into you and cause you injury.

Shouting and getting out of their way is your only defense at the moment.

 

5, Dealing with Silly Questions

For some odd reason, non-wheelchair users ask strange and silly questions, including “Do you have a job?” “Can you drive?” “Do you swim?” “Is your partner disabled?” “How did you end up in a wheelchair?” These questions are invasive and rude.

But wheelchair users have to remain graceful and either choose to answer the questions or politely refuse.

 

6, Assuring People Every Thing is OK

This situation often arises when in the presence of strangers.

It is understood that people are trying to be polite and offer assistance, but after the answer of “I’m OK,” they really should back off the situation.

All wheelchair users are not in constant need of help or trapped in an illness.

They are just trying to live their lives like everyone else.

 

7, Being Patient with Others

Patience is something that not every wheelchair user has but is forced to have at one point or another.

Even the ones you love, people could say or do some things that get on your nerves.

Having patience with others who mean well and are trying to learn more about how you live your life benefits wheelchair users throughout the years.

 

8, People Staring All the Time

The amount of stares wheelchair users get from strangers is overwhelming.

Observers may compare it to a fan seeing a celebrity for the first time.

They often watch in awe as a wheelchair user goes along with their life and daily schedule.

It’s uncomfortable to be stared at while just trying to shop, especially for personal items.

 

9, Getting Dirty Looks in Parking Lots

While it’s nice that most parking lots provide accessible parking spaces, often there are not enough spaces available.

This usually means that the wheelchair user has to use a standard space if all the spaces are taken.

Since the accessible parking spaces are so valued, wheelchair users often get dirty looks for using the space until the onlooker sees the wheelchair.

 

10, Scratches on the Car

Lifting a wheelchair isn’t always easy.

There are days when the wheelchair easily slips and scratches the paint on the Car.

Wheelchair users have plenty of scratches on their cars in the areas where they load and unload their chairs.

 

11, Fitting a Wheelchair into a Car

This subject is a popular one among wheelchair users.

No matter the size of your Car or wheelchair, it always seems challenging to fit the wheelchair in the car perfectly.

 

12, Getting a Seat on a Public Bus

Most public buses have designated areas for wheelchair users.

The space is often limited, and parents of young children often park their baby stroller in the space.

If you are at a bus stop with other wheelchair users and parents with strollers, there is often a conversation to see who gets the space and who gets left behind.

 

13, Broken Bus Wheelchair Lifts

Relying on the city bus system is stressful since the wheelchair lifts are not in working order.

This can ruin your day, which causes you to cancel appointments and even miss a day of work or school.

 

14, Not Being Able to Use Most Subways

The largest cities in the world, such as New York, Paris and London, have subways that don’t have wheelchair lifts.

This limits wheelchair users to take alternative transportation that is more expensive and inconvenient.

 

15, Cleaning Caster Wheels with Tweezers

Caster wheels are located in the front of the wheelchair and tend to collect hair, thread and other debris.

The only way to remove the debris is with tweezers.

This is gross and time-consuming, but it’s a job that has to be done regularly to prevent damage to the wheelchair.

 

16, Never Using Public Mirrors

It’s surprising to wheelchair users that bathroom stalls specifically made to be used by wheelchair users have mirrors that are placed too high.

As a wheelchair user, you are lucky if you can see the top of your head.

 

17, Making Difficult Turns to Enter and Exit Bathrooms

Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are not perfect.

Often wheelchair users find themselves making a 10-point turn to enter or exit the bathroom stall.

 

18, Sustaining Mysterious Injuries

Wheelchair users often bump their elbows, break nails, bruise and experience injuries from doing everyday tasks.

 

19, Ruining Clothes

Even the finest and strongest material can’t withstand a wheelchair user’s day for very long.

Often clothing gets dirty from close access to the wheels.

Clothing also gets ripped, torn and worn down due to constant contact with moving parts of wheelchairs.

 

20, Dirty Hands

Manual wheelchair users often have dirty hands from using their wheelchairs all day.

Hand sanitizer doesn’t help much because it has to dry before touching the wheelchair again.

Wheelchair users often carry wipes to clean their hands, but they will always get dirty rather quickly.

 

People in wheelchairs have a wide range of obstacles that others will never have to worry about.

If you are a non-wheelchair user, remember what you have learned and treat wheelchair users just like everyone else.

Allow yourself to deeply understand that wheelchair users will always have to cope with these 20 things and much more.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Receive updates, notifications and the latest news about TOUSDA products and services.

Please Note: You can opt-out at any time by emailing your request to vincent@tousdamedical.com

Mr. Vincent
Mr. Vincent

International Market Director of TOUSDA, Rehabilitation Therapy Products Experts, Son, Husband, and Father.
Passionate about providing high-quality rehabilitation therapy products, especially wheelchair, electric wheelchair, commode wheelchair, commode chair, mobility aids, walking aids, crutch, walking stick, etc., and share the latest news, tips, blogs, advice, knowledge about the medical industry field.
Excited about TOUSDA's mission to become the premier online medical technology platform that empowers caregivers by spotlighting innovative devices and products to achieve optimal patient response and recovery.

EXTENDING

Notes: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care.
Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.

Contact TOUSDA Today to Learn More, Get A Quote, or Schedule A Visit Time.

Interested in products? Check TOUSDA Product Page.

Scroll to Top

Something Not Clear?

Get A
QUICK QUOTE

Please fill out the form and a representative will be in contact with you shortly.
TOUSDA
will be more than happy to answer all of your questions.
TOUSDA-Site-Logo

Please Note: You can opt-out at any time by emailing your request to vincent@tousdamedical.com

NEW PRODUCTS

Tousda-Wheelchair-Banner

Chat with TOUSDA Now !!!

Learn how TOUSDA Medical helped 100 top brands boost profits...