It probably seems a little odd to suggest that users of different types of wheelchair experience ableism in different ways, but as someone who has used both powered and manual, self-propelled and assistant propelled wheelchairs, I’ve encountered the variety of ways others react to these mobility aids and the different challenges I’ve faced with each. This will probably be controversial, but frankly using a self-propelled manual wheelchair seems to carry certain privileges over powered wheelchair use.

Before I continue, I want to be explicitly clear that manual wheelchair users are not the problem here, nor are they at fault. They still experience ableism. They still come up against inaccessibility and prejudice all the time, and many of the challenges experienced from a powered wheelchair still remain for manual wheelchair users. Self-propelling is also extremely tiring; after all, you are pushing more mass with smaller muscles. Relying on an assistant for propulsion is also less than ideal, stripping the wheelchair user of any independence whatsoever.

At the end of the day however, the self-propelled manual wheelchair is the literal icon used to represent all disabilities, and being the poster-boy for all disabled people carries certain privileges. Almost all depictions of wheelchair users in the media are of self-propelled manual wheelchairs. As such, people are more accustomed to seeing manual wheelchairs and are more comfortable in their presence. Strangers are far more likely to speak directly to me (provided I am self-propelling), recognising my independence and autonomy as a human being, whereas in the powered wheelchair people seem to assume that I am a “vegetable”. People are less likely to force unwanted “help” on me in the manual wheelchair, the irony here being that I’m far more likely to need assistance when in my manual wheelchair compared to the true independence I have in the powered wheelchair.

The rest of the extra challenges faced by powered wheelchairs are a direct result of the batteries and motors themselves, or rather inaccessibility in regards to these features. Powered wheelchairs are far more expensive than their manual counterparts, and take more money to maintain as they need to be charged electronically in order to function. This doesn’t even take into the account the cost of repairs, not to mention the months I had to wait to have a functioning powered wheelchair when the batteries failed.

Aside from the financial disadvantage, powered wheelchairs are also usually heavier and bigger, with a wider turning circle. They can’t be bumped up small steps or over curbs when there’s no crossing, or maneuvered around tight spaces. They certainly can’t be used to traverse an escalator, which is something I’ve seen a few people do. Powered wheelchairs also are rarely able to be folded up to fit in vehicles, forcing users to rely on unreliable assistance and rare adapted cars when using public transport. On multiple occasions I have been even denied access because the poor-quality ramps and lift available simply weren’t strong enough to carry the powered wheelchair. I’ve had people complain that I take up too much space or make too much noise in the powered wheelchair. I’ve also never been challenged about entering the building where I live because I am deemed a “fire hazard” when using the manual wheelchair (there’ll be more on that next time).

When all is said and done, if I was able to propel myself further than fifty meters, my life would be a little bit easier.

I’m not writing all of this to pit different types of wheelchair user against each other; on the contrary, I’m trying to unite us by explaining the challenges unique to powered wheelchair use so that we can all tackle them. Manual wheelchair users are not part of the problem; the problem is the ableism we all experience and the inaccessibility we all encounter. There is a possible world where the physical and potentially even the additional financial burden of using a powered wheelchair does not disadvantage users when compared to manual wheelchair users. Unfortunately, we are not there yet and for the time being at least, there is a certain element of privilege for those who can move around without power.