Mobility Aid Myth Busting

Let’s bust some myths about mobility aids, because using one doesn’t mean what you think it does.

Myth: “You must be paralysed to use a wheelchair.”

Truth: Not true. Wheelchairs are for anyone who benefits from them, whether it’s fatigue, pain, balance issues, or energy management. Ambulatory wheelchair users exist. We might walk, stand, or move our legs. Don’t be surprised, just accept it.

Myth: “Using a mobility aid means you’ve ‘given up.’”

Truth: Quite the opposite. Using an aid often means choosing more, more freedom, more independence, more life. My aids let me work, go out, and have fun. Without them, I couldn’t do half as much.

Myth: “You’re too young to need a stick, walker, or wheelchair.”

Truth: Disability doesn’t have an age limit. Disabled children exist, so why do people act shocked when someone under 60 uses a mobility aid? Young disabled people are real, we’re just not shown enough.

Myth: “But you were walking yesterday!”

Truth: Many of us live with fluctuating conditions. Aid use can vary day to day, and that’s completely valid. We adapt to our bodies, and that doesn’t mean we’re faking.

Myth: “If you start using a mobility aid, you’ll never stop.”

Truth: That’s not how it works. Some people use aids full-time, others just occasionally. I actually used a wheelchair before a stick or walker. Mobility needs aren’t linear, and that’s OK.

Mobility aids aren’t a last resort, they’re tools. And using the right tool for the job? That’s smart.

If you’ve heard one of these myth, or believed it yourself, save this or send it to someone who needs to hear it.

What other mobility aid myths should I bust? Tell me in the comments!

Video description: Jenni, a white woman, stands in front of a brick wall wearing a white top and brown skirt, sharing ableist myths about mobility aids. The video then cuts to Jenni using her manual wheelchair, wearing a blue dress in front of the same brick wall, shares the truth about these misconceptions.

#MobilityAids #DisabilityAwareness #AmbulatoryWheelchairUser #ChronicIllness #DisabilityEducation #WheelchairLife #DisabledAndProud #MobilityAidsAreFreedom

Chronically Jenni is back with her weekly vlog series Chronic Illness Weekly sharing how she navigates life with chronic illness & disability. She shares her journey with honesty, humor, and a touch of creativity. These vlogs are where resilience meets authenticity; from navigating daily challenges to celebrating small victories. So come along on the week with us for relatable lows but also a lot of Disabled joy! Watch her work alongside her support team as a content creator & model and spend time with the whole family; Ian, Honey the Hedgehog & Coco the Double Doodle Dog.

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