LATERAL ABLEISM and WHEELCHAIR SHAMING

I have a bone to pick w/ some wheelchair accessibility, visibility and edu advocates. I've been seeing this more and more, and it only seems to be growing legs. (Pun not intended but feels apt. Bc your privilege and ability is showing.)

I've been seeing so many threads, videos, infographics, comics and more trying to discuss what "real wheelchairs" are like. You can see where this is going.

The INTENT is to take a stab at bad media representation, social ignorance, inaccessibility, etc, when it comes to chairs.

But what often follows is exclusion, lateral ignorance, shaming, and a quite frankly, elitist behavior. ..wiping out a huuuuge population of chair users in its wake.

Much of this advocacy highlights the features, size, weight, shape, etc of "real chairs" compared to stereotypes.

Except..
1. They're all "real". And someone's relying on them rn.
2. A massssive percentage of the disabled pop DOES use 'those unsightly things'.
3. The chairs being represented as universal instead are merely ONE type, fit only specific disabilities and are a privilege to own.

"NO ONE uses a hospital chair!! Why would we do that?! It's a transport chair, not a daily personal one!"

...except everyone who does. Every day. Sometimes for 5, 10+ years. Bc that's all they can afford, that insurance will cover, or that a program could give them for free.

Yes, they're heavy af. Yes, they're 'unsightly' and uncool. Yes, they're harder to push, not made for outdoors, and lack tons of custom features.

Yet, thanks to poverty, discrimination, healthcare, low education or support for access needs? Hundreds of thousands are in them now.

"Wheelchairs are lightweight! Cmon, they're, like, 25lbs. They go anywhere."

...unless you have a power (motorized) chair? A "hospital chair"? A chair with added height, leg rests, smart drives, etc?

"No more high backs or handles! We use low backs - comfort and mobility. No one has hospital handles anymore. We can push ourSELVES."

...unless you can't? All the time? Tons of us REQUIRE the option for assistance. And high backs? Those, too. Or head/neck support. Low is a gift.

"The armrests are hospital-only too. We don't have those. They get in the way and [I've literally heard this] aren't as sleek and slimming. Only temp chairs have em."

...except millions? For upper body support, a rest, to *literally steer their chair*? Only YOU don't need them.

"What's w/ all the pedal footrests? We just collect our feet on a bar. It doesn't even move; it's just fixed to the frame."

...unless you have one of like a bazillion other chairs/disabilities/needs. Heck, mine are RAISED legrests, v much detach, & I can't even put my feet down.

"Some have anti-tippers but those are only for beginners."

...no they're not? Plenty of people want them for life. Bc lack of coordination, inaccessible streets, personal security/confidence, past trauma/falls, seizures, core paralysis, etc etc. Don't be rude.

"Wheelies are a must to get around, not just cool."

...you got the last part right. IF you have a lightweight, compact, square, manual wheelchair and the physical ability to even do them. That's a lot of mandatory criteria. My manual chair can't even do them, bc...rectangle.

"Those fancy electric chairs that let people stand eye level? They're ableist, no one wants that, stop it."

...except they're not? A lot people not only WANT that, but may be medically advised to "stand" often. It can be grounding, needed stretch, exercise, etc. Not just social.

"Chairs are tiny and compact, dismantle into even smaller spaces. Stop acting like you need to part the Red Sea for me or can't have me in your car/home/etc."

...this is VERY valid IFFF you do in fact have a chair like that. Many do have huge chairs and are ostracized even more.

"We have cool colors, features, baskets, cup holders, wheels n rims now. They're not so ugly. We take pride in our chairs too. Stop making us look old and sickly."

...yikes. Way to make everyone w/o that wealth, luck, support, disability type and straight up luxury feel hideous.

Here's the thing.

So many of these wheelchair education TEDTalks speak only for those with:
- a lot of money (custom chairs - which these are - are thousands of dollars)
- incredible insurance
- resources/support
- a singular chair type
- more mobile/specific disabilities
- luck

If you're fighting for representation or better social understanding of wheelchairs, this only advocates for some. AND does so for the already more-visible and "palatable" disabilities.

It needs done, but not by shaming, misrepresenting and speaking over an entire community.

The fact is, these self-sufficient, modern, sleek, fashionable, lightweight, compact, custom chairs are already going to be greeted w/ more acceptance by society, and many disabled folks WISH they had that.

So when other disabled folks sht on our chairs or needs? It cuts deep.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that MOST portrayals in media, social circles and even the medical field are ONLY misguided ignorance -- not trying to speak truth to reality.

But there's a way to impress that by saying "only x if y". Not "x doesn't exist, not real, gross".

It really hurts AND adds to our discrimination.

It makes people/drs think you're faking w/ a hospital chair (or 'it's just temporary'), see "poor" if it's not custom, promise "it's accessible" bc they think =small/etc, judge you for features they think you shouldn't have, etc.

But it's mostly just invalidating, exclusionary and plain ole sucks to be forgotten and spoken over by your own community. Esp whilst "advocating" for you.

Assess your DEEP privilege, don't condescend your peers in the snark for the public, and learn about OTHER disabled needs.

Thought I ought to share my own wheelchair experience and unique style needs over the last 9 years: https://twitter.com/rollwthepunches/status/1390169654295990273?s=19