No One Should Be Shamed for Using a Mobility Aid

The right mobility aid can open up the world. When fitted correctly, it’s an extension of the body, a way for people with disabilities to participate in society more equally. Just like using crutches for a broken leg, using a wheelchair or rollator shouldn’t be controversial or brave. But despite how life-changing mobility aids can be for the people who need them, they are also heavily stigmatized. A 2024 study in Disability and Health Journal that surveyed 60 wheelchair users found themes of feeling “patronized.” “People are weird about it,” reported one wheelchair user. “I often have people just openly stare or come up and ask invasive questions.”This is especially true for people, like me, with invisible disabilities—impairment that isn’t externally obvious—and people with dynamic disabilities, whose symptoms change from day to day. These types of disabilities are fairly common: an estimated 70% to 80% of disability is invisible, and such disabilities are often misunderstood. Just because someone is an ambulatory wheelchair user or only uses mobility aids during a flare-up doesn’t mean they don’t need them. And it certainly doesn’t mean it’s okay to shame people who use them. Jo...