My mobility aid is not your comedy prop

Lisa shares her perspective of why 'jokes' about mobility aids really aren't that funny.

Recently, whilst watching a TV programme, I came across a moment that bothered me. In jest, a person on the show was using an inflatable mobility aid. Hunched over, this TV star used the fake walking frame, to the great enjoyment of many onlookers.

As a person who uses mobility aids, I felt disappointed.

I have neuromuscular scoliosis and a spinal fusion. I started using a walking stick in my 40s to help with my mobility. After this, I transitioned to crutches. I now use a manual wheelchair.

Like many other disabled people, I do get comments from time to time. This seems to be the standard for wheelchair users. ‘I hope you don’t get a speeding ticket with that!’ or ‘Have you got a driving licence for that?’ are among these. I’m sure they think it’s the first time I’ve heard it, and that I find them hilarious, I just laugh it off and get on with my day.

The emotional impact of these attitudes. 

I have, on occasion, had my mobility aids mocked. That can be draining.

I’ve got to a stage where I’ve developed a thick skin to this kind of nonsense. It doesn’t faze me much. However, I know first-hand how difficult these things can be for a child or young person.

In an ideal world, no child would have to deal with this kind of thing. We all know how unintentionally cruel some children can be at times. Ableist ‘jokes’ in film and TV almost give permission for others to act that way. They certainly provide the language for ableist bullying.

I worry that some people who need to use mobility aids may delay or indeed not even use them for fear of receiving abuse or ableist comments when they go out.

To be totally honest, I did kind of recoil inside when a wheelchair was first suggested to me. A part of me just didn’t want one. After a day or so wondering why I felt like this, I began to recognise my own internalised ableism. Where would that have come from? Poor representation of mobility aids and disability in the media perhaps?

Nowadays my mobility aids mean everything to me. They give me an independence that would simply be unachievable without them. Without my wheelchair, I would be much less mobile. I’d also be in more pain, and a lot more tired.

We need more positive media representation. TV series with disabled folks just going about their normal lives, not necessarily being the ‘inspiring one’. Just doing their own thing, living a life like everyone else.

I understand humour can be subjective. Some people just don’t understand the impact of ableist jokes. When I meet someone like this, I offer them a scenario.

I ask them to imagine they have a disabled child who uses mobility aids. Can they imagine seeing the other children staring? The tears falling down the child’s face as they recount all the ableist comments?

Does that story make mobility aids less of a joke? It should.

If you need support with finding the right mobility aids and equipment for your needs, we have some advice and information that could help.