While many people think they understand the challenges of being disabled, the experience is very different when you actually live it. Someone who is on crutches or in a wheelchair for the first time quickly realizes that communities and buildings are planned and constructed under the assumption that most people are physically able to navigate them. For every door that opens automatically or with the push of a button, there are 10 more that do not. A person who needs assistance with basic tasks because of a disability can feel helpless and embarrassed.
Some challenges that confront people with disabilities, especially those who use manual wheelchairs, are nearly invisible to able people, like how difficult it can be to navigate up a steep ramp while powering the wheels by hand. For this reason, electric wheelchairs are not just luxuries; they’re necessary for some people to live fulfilled lives that are not ruled by their disabilities. If you’re a caregiver or friend of someone who has a disability, take a moment to understand what it would feel like to be immobile or dependant on someone or something else to get around. This will help you be a more patient, thoughtful caregiver, and it will also empower you to advocate for your friend to have the proper tools needed to offset his or her disability.
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