Why is the Wheelchair so Scary?


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Growing up, there was a man, Mike, who lived down the street and who used a power wheelchair. He had broken his neck as a teenager and was my friend Megan’s uncle. Whenever we were bored, she would drag me to his house so we could ask him for a free ride on his wheelchair, sit on his lap, the whole shebang. And, oh man, I hated it when she would make us do this. I really did.

The reason it bugged me? Back when I was nondisabled, I, just like half the human population on this planet if I had to guess, felt horribly uncomfortable around wheelchair users. I was only 6 and already I was prejudiced towards wheelchair users. What’s the deal, man? Is it ingrained in our brains to automatically poo-poo anyone who cannot walk?

Now that I’m a quadriplegic, of course I’m not proud of my 6 year old self. While I never imagined my accident would happen and would land me in a wheelchair (that might have softened me), it makes me wonder why I was automatically so afraid of him. Why are wheelchairs by default scary to the human brain? Is it because kids are small and wheelchairs are big? Or is it simply because different bodies are off-putting?

If you think about it, a wheelchair is just a chair on four wheels, maybe six if you have the fancy kind. It’s not like it’s a tank outfitted with bombs or an electric chair in prison trying to take your last breath. But there’s just something about the wheelchair that has the ability to freak people out, like it’s the blob is coming towards them.

This didn’t use to bother me, but now it does. What changed? My four little nieces ages 8, 7, 5 and 1.

While the eldest two are way cool around me, the 5 year old … not so much. She is taking a bit longer to realize the wheelchair is not scary and is just a piece of equipment to help Auntie Tiff get around. I know it’s because I am not able to see her as much in person as I was her sisters, and it makes me sad there’s not something I can do. It’s only going to take time.

Don’t get me wrong, I try. I smile, tell jokes, make funny faces, even surprise her with candy, but I can tell she is still not quite comfortable. She may take a bit more longer this one, but I know eventually she’ll come around like her sisters. I’m absolutely determined. She is my kin.

But I won’t lie. It makes me sad that I have to un-scarify myself. I really wish the human brain wasn’t hardwired the way it is when it comes to the wheelchair.

How do you deal with the “scary wheelchair?”

Photo courtesy of Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/sjsharktank/5752328890/sizes/m/


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Trisha
Trisha
8 years ago

When I am out and about in my kick-ass power chair I definitely see kids openly sizing me up, wondering what is going on. Most are quiet about it. However, once a little girl smiled and seemed curious so I showed her what it would do and let her press the horn button. She loved that! Another time a little boy told his mom he wanted a “truck” like mine. Recently an adorable little girl asked me why I had it and I told her my legs didn’t work right so it was like my car. She was fairly content with that answer. A lot depends on the kids’ parents and their attitudes. Where I live in Germany it is not unusual to see people out with walkers, wheelchairs or power chairs so I think that helps.

Lauren
Lauren
8 years ago

Thanks for sharing this post about your thoughts of wheelchairs. I definitely understand how wheelchairs may be perceived as “scary” to young children.

Efren Caldera
Efren Caldera
8 years ago

I quess I was lucky, I’ve had polio all my life, by age 45 I had to use a W/C because of my shoulders giving way. My daughter who was in third grade would always want me to pick her up from school. She would climb on the back and all the kids faces were filled with awe and would mutter “how cool”. I was a very happy daddy. And still am. I drive a P200 by Quickie best chair for kid rides on the back.

Abbie
Abbie
8 years ago

I am new to wheelchair use, and still haven’t resigned myself to using one. I am 65 years old with ms.

Even as an adult I would not make eyecontact with a person in a wc. I don’t really know why, but feeling now what goes around comes around.

I very much feel wc bound..