09/09/2026
Reasons why I used my wheelchair yesterday that might surprise people:
I drove an hour to get to an event. I knew that by the time I got there, my leg muscles would already be tired and sore from driving.
The event was also in downtown Miami with street parking, which meant I was very likely going to have to park at least a block or two away. That’s already more walking before the event even starts.
If I walked from my car, walked around the entire event, and then walked back to my car, I probably wouldn’t have had much energy left to actually enjoy myself. More importantly, I still had to drive an hour back home afterward.
Could I technically have walked? Yes. But “can I physically walk this distance?” isn’t the only calculation I have to make as an ambulatory wheelchair user.
I also have to think about what that walking will cost me later. How much energy will it use? How much pain will it cause? Will my muscles still cooperate when I need them? What else do I need my body to do that day? Or the next few days?
Using my wheelchair meant I could preserve that energy for actually enjoying the event, talking to people, and safely getting myself home afterward.
Mobility aids aren’t only for when you’ve reached the point where you physically cannot walk anymore. A wheelchair what prevent you from reaching that point in the first place.
My wheelchair gives me the ability to decide where I want to spend my limited energy instead of spending all of it just getting from point A to point B.
I actually met a lovely woman at the event yesterday who put it perfectly: “A wheelchair is simply an aid. It helps you get around, regardless of whether you can technically walk short distances. And it’s no one’s business anyway.”
She's right: a wheelchair doesn’t have to be someone’s absolute last resort to be a valid tool for making their life more accessible. 🫶
