Why do people use wheelchairs? Many people believe there is an association between individuals using a wheelchair and a chronic illness. Sometimes this is true. But, often this is not true. Using wheelchairs, in particular, more than other kinds of assistive devices, has a history that has harbored this myth!
The misconception stems from the use of wheelchairs in places where there are people with chronic illnesses. Places like nursing homes, institutions, and hospitals use wheelchairs to transport people safely. Many of these places use wheelchairs to keep people safe, because if anything were to happen on the trip from one point to another—like the patient room to the car—the institution would be legally responsible. At the same time, it is sometimes the case that people who are in these kinds of institutions are chronically ill. That is to say, there are people who use wheelchairs who do have a chronic illness, but who do not have mobility impairing disability. This is a case where correlation does not equal causation! That means that, although sometimes two things happen at the same time, it does not mean that they are related. For examples, Tiger Vigen has made an interesting website with lots of examples of things that may happen at the same time but are completely unrelated, such as the number of people who drown after falling into a pool and the number of moves that Nicholas Cage has appeared in: http://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations. In this case, this myth goes that those with disabilities are using a wheelchair, because they are chronically ill. The fact is that many people using a wheelchair are healthy and live full lives. People with mobility impairments who use wheelchairs may even be healthier than those without a disability. Using a wheelchair or other assistive device grants people the freedom to engage with their communities, work a regular job, pursue social relationships, and engage in wheelchair-adapted sports along with other hobbies. As we described in our previous FEAST Myth Debunked, Starting to Use a Wheelchair Means You are Going to Get Fat, https://feastresearch.weebly.com/get-fit, many opportunities are available for physical activities for many people who use wheelchairs. It is important to debunk the myth that everyone in a wheelchair has a chronic illness. A wheelchair could be used to transport someone from one side of the hospital to the other. This does not mean that the individual suddenly has a chronic illness. There are many cases of people who use wheelchairs that do not have anything to do with chronic illness. Most people who use wheelchairs are living a healthy life without a chronic illness. People who use wheelchairs are like people who do not use wheelchairs. There are plenty of resources online or at your health care provider's office that are available for free to anyone that would like to learn more. Resources: https://www.asha.org/ https://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/facts-about-disability/myths-facts.html
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