The wheelchair has been the symbol for disability issues since the 1960s. This is because spinal injuries were dominated in the wounded of World War 2 and the Vietnam wars, making wheelchair users, especially paraplegics, a political issue and drive for change. Clearly, over the years the meanings of impairment and disability have grown to encompass many more conditions.

However, the wheelchair remains the most identifiable notion of impairment and disability in terms of social barriers. This means anyone who uses a wheelchair is easily identified as a ‘disabled person’, which can have a significant psychological and social impact for them.

For newly impaired people with impairments and those with progressive conditions, the point on their journey when they need to consider using a wheelchair is likely to be an emotionally significant event for them because it may be the first time they have needed to confront their identity as a disabled person.

The disability identity has historically been linked with weakness, inferiority, vulnerability, otherness and other traits. The media, both in terms of the news and fictional material, have historically heavily relied on negative stereotypes and often use disability as a one-dimensional metaphor, although the portrayal of people with impairments in the media is slowly improving. This backdrop as well as where someone is in their acceptance of their impairment can cause their adopting of a wheelchair to be an emotional event.

While I used to mostly walk as someone with cp, I am now mostly a full-time wheelchair user. Using a wheelchair in the long term can become an important part of someone’s public identity. At age 45 I have almost forgotten what it is like to walk full time and I find it hard to picture myself walking but that could be the same with a lot of things as we all grow older. As an aside, it is more evidence that cerebral palsy is not as non-progressive as I and many others was told when we were younger.

I believe many people with mobility impairments choose to use a mobility scooter rather than a wheelchair because of the stigma associated with a wheelchair. even when it is not the most suitable option. I feel too many people are trying to use mobility scooters as wheelchairs to avoid using a wheelchair when they are two very different devices. In terms of public transport. this identity denial is causing real practical issues as scooter users demand the same level of accessibility as wheelchair users.

Wheelchair and personhood is an interesting subject at many levels and there should be an open discussion in the public debate on issues involved to assist in improving the understanding of a whole range impairment issues by the general population as the subject can be more normalised.

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Understand Assistance – http://www.understand.tips
Understand Dysability – https://www.simonstevens.com/understanddysability
Understand Inclusion -https://www.simonstevens.com/understandinclusion

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Before I begin to start this article I should explain this is simply my own ramblings on the subject rather than any well researched academic piece. However, as I was searching for a suitable feature image I quickly read that under Christian belief that Pride was one of the 7 deadly sins, and that is a good starting point.

Pride is seen as self-promotion and a trait that can easily lead to arrogance but I believe Pride when properly defined is very positive as it is an expression of the inner satisfaction with where they are in life. The church may oppose pride because if people are confident within themselves as individuals then they may no longer seek solace in God, and therefore their power over them and the larger society is lost, and this is exactly what we have seen.

For myself, Pride has been a key coping mechanism in establishing my self-identity as someone with significant cerebral palsy. My impairment, particularly my speech impairment, drooling and spastic movements, has the potential to provide low self-worth in a mainstream setting. A youthful unawareness and denial common in many active and aware people with cp seems to overcome this through a natural development of pride.

Pride is, therefore, a cornerstone of developing a personality that shines beyond and compensates for physical appearance. If Pride is frown upon in this context then it is because it has subverted the perceived natural order of society that keeps people with impairments and others in their place. This is why the Gay Pride movement has had a stronger influence than other forms of protest because it shows a self-satisfaction of identity as opposed to playing the victim which is more frustrating to its prejudiced audience.

Pride works when it values diversity and freedom, where someone is saying they are happy with who they are without imposing it on others. Identity politics does not always stay in this realm and it is when pride is used to proclaim superiority against other people that problems arise. This is when Pride becomes arrogance and can be an ugly trait that is currently common in younger people where their expression of identity is regarded as a significant political statement.

However, Pride can remain an expression of satisfaction which should be worked towards. Many individuals do not understand their personal journey and story because they have been pushed to conform to the expectations of others like family and peers, and even when they do, they may not be following it. Pride can, therefore, be seen as an expression of being on track with their journey and the liberation to themselves it brings.

We should have pride in the notion of pride as self-identity in a diverse world. It can lead to arrogance and trouble with others but it does not have to if we teach people from an early age the power of pride and how best to use it.

If you like my blog article, have a look at some of my products;

Achieve Support – https://www.simonstevens.com/achievesupport
Having Pride (My Life Story) – http://www.balsy.me
Stevens’ Manifesto – https://www.simonstevens.com/manifesto
Understand Assistance – http://www.understand.tips
Understand Dysability – https://www.simonstevens.com/understanddysability
Understand Inclusion -https://www.simonstevens.com/understandinclusion

or visit my website at http://www.simonstevens.com

Donations are always gratefully received via paypal at https://www.paypal.me/simonstevens74
You can also email me at simon@simonstevens.com
or follow me on Twitter at @simonstevens74