Do wheelchair users like to take walks?

 

Resting my legs after a long day of sitting.

I’ve been asked if I prefer the words roll instead of walk, or do I want to physically walk, but not the way it was asked yesterday.  Do wheelchair users like to take walks?  My first instinct was to be a smart ass about it.  But the seriousness on the man’s face told me I shouldn’t.  It was an honest question, and I’m always advocating for people to ask questions if they are curious instead of making assumptions.

I can’t answer for all people who use wheelchairs, but this user says yes.  Yes, I like a good “walk” – not in the sense of moving one foot in front of the other, but taking a few moments out of my day to hit the pavement and bask in the freedom after being cooped up in an office all day.

roll, walk, slide, glide, stroll ...

A picture I took while on a stroll last year at Casco Nature Preserve.

What is a “walk” really?  Use whatever word you want to call it.  I enjoy looking around.  I like feeling the sun on my face.  I like the independence of moving freely.  I love taking a walk on a nice October day.  I love taking a walk on a sunny day.  I enjoy taking a walk with a friend.         

Having a physical disability, and using a wheelchair most of the time, people assume that I can’t walk and have a desire to walk.  I get that much of society walks – one foot in front of the other – but how can I desire that way of walking when I have never known a world without using a wheelchair and crutches? 

I do walk - but in my own way.  The crutches and wheelchair are my way of walking.  Don’t we walk to move from one place to the next?  Does it matter how we get there?  What throws a wrench in my situation is when I’m using my wheelchair and come across stairs to get into a public place.  If I have my crutches along, I can use those to walk up and down stairs, but if I don’t then I am limited. 

Before I knew others with disabilities, the disability rights movement and about disability pride, I felt it was spina bifida’s fault that I couldn’t get into a building.  If my spine developed properly I could walk like I was supposed to.  I learned though and stopped blaming the circumstances I was born.  

It's not my fault I can't walk the "normal" way, but to be honest I don't think about the actual act of walking.  I'm a busy woman!  I have a life to live and if I have to sit in a chair with wheels, or use crutches then there's nothing wrong with that.  

So maybe we need to loosen up about the word walk, and the context in which we use it.  Or maybe you should ask me for a walk and we can discuss it …  

- Lucia - 

Comments

[Brandon]

You make a great point of what "walking" actually is: a way of getting from one place to another. In the grand scheme of things, does it matter what word is used? Internally, it might bother you (or someone else) if they use a word you don't particularly like. But, you'll never know if you don't open your mouth and talk to someone.

[gerald]

I generally use the word walk with my wife (who is the wheelchair user) without a quibble - sometimes if she asks how we are going to get somewhere (locally only) I'll say - we'll walk it or sometimes I'll say we're going "under our own steam". If we are down town she'll often go off somewhere on her own and I'll tell people she's "gone for a wander".