Using Mobility Aids: Facing Adversity and Judgement

(I am an ambulatory, part-time electric wheelchair user, I plan on getting a rollator, and I recently acquired a seat cane) It is common for it to feel extremely scary when you are first starting out on your mobility aid journey!! I was scared of people assuming i am not disabled or "worthy" of my aids, making rude comments or asking invasive questions, or giving me weird looks..... And, they do. To be fair, I actually have yet to have anyone ask me or say anything out loud - but I'm near positive it still happens, quietly. But, one thing I didn't expect was my increased confidence once I started using my mobility aids. Once I realized how much freedom I got from using my chair - the fears of other's reactions just slipped into the background. Every so often it can still stress me out - but it has proven to be a lesser concern than it was before I got my mobility aids 😊 If you would benefit from using aids, then go for it!! Good luck! 💛

I use a crutch most days and I've never had any comments, I actually feel a bit safer. For example on the bus people don't dispute with me why I'm sitting at the front in the disabled priority seats if I have my crutch with me because I'm visibly disabled, before I used mobility aids I had a lot of older people making snide comments. I also occasionally borrow a wheelchair and I've noticed that people will say hello to me more in a kind of empathetic way for some reason.

I use a cane most days, and my wheelchair on bad days. It's hard for me to get around most of the time and I can't risk not being able to get around in public if I forget/don't use my aids.

I used crutches for I think the most part of the year when I first got CFS cause I could barely walk or get out of bed. I still use them on really bad days. Though sometimes it goes bad that I’m not able to use them and I have to have someone holding me up.

Use the mobility aids, I have a walking stick with ergonomic grip and a rollator, I use both on a regular basis and this year I went on holiday and rented a mobility scooter for the first time and it was absolutely amazing how much more I could enjoy myself. Please use whatever helps you and people will judge you no matter what you might as well be more comfortable/able to do things 💜

I don't think my parents will allow me to get a mobility aid even though I could benefit from it because the don't understand the extremities of my struggles, but I do have hiking poles with rubber bottoms that I plan to take with me next time I go on a trip with a lot of walking

Hi, I’ve been anxious about using aids in public too. Right now I use a cane, but I need more support than it offers. Using it in public hasn’t gotten me any comments or negative attention though. It’s super helpful compared to having nothing and nobody has made a fuss about it.