I'm Proud of my Mobility Aids

 I'm proud of my mobility aids.

People find it weird when I say that, but I am. Mobility aids are just tools to get a job done. Whether the job is walking, showering, cooking, gardening, working at a desk, listening to a podcast - there's a mobility aid for that.

When I say 'people', I mainly mean non disabled people, but not exclusively. Anyone can be ableist. People who 'don't use' mobility aids, don't tend to understand that they do use them every day. Do you have a phone, a car, or wear glasses? That's a mobility aid. Just a tool to get a job done. I wish the world would see that mobility aids are everyday things we all use to make our lives easier.

Some mobility aids are an extension of my body, like my wheelchair. So naturally part of learning to love my body, meant learning to love my mobility aids too. 

My first mobility aid was a crutch, given to me by a physiotherapist to help with my balance. I called him Cooper (yes I named him). When I'd accepted using a crutch, I realised how much it helped me and I wondered what else might make my daily life a bit easier. I started looking at other devices like rollators, cushions, support braces and jar openers. I bought some small cheap aids, mainly to help me in the kitchen and it just kept going from there. My Physiotherapist also arranged for an occupational therapist to come to my house to assess if I needed other help. They provided me with lots of amazing things. Half steps and grab rails to get in and out of the house, a bath board, raised toilet seat and grab rails to help me in the bathroom, a perching stool to use in the kitchen. My life was transformed.

Using them every day meant they became normal for me, and people asked me about them when they came round. Talking about them and how they help me gave me a sense of pride. Some friends and family even got themselves a few aids to help them too.

When I first started using Cooper, i felt ashamed. I was 23 and felt like my body was letting me down. But with the reaction and feedback from friends, that changed. Slowly I started not to hide them in photos and posting about them on social media. My sense of pride kept growing and still is.

Don't get me wrong, I still sometimes get looks from strangers who aren't used to seeing a young person proudly displaying mobility aids; and I understand their reactions. But now when I take pictures or film a tiktok, I always have a mobility aid on screen. It leads to people asking questions about them, and asking advice on what might work for them, and I love those questions. I like that I'm helping someone discover things that could improve their life.

I think more people should use mobility aids. I'm not saying everyone should go out and buy a wheelchair. I am saying use what you need, use what will help, and don't be afraid of showing it off. Just because it's not 'normal' or mainstream, doesn't mean it shouldn't be.