Imagine a world where your mobility is defined by a wooden wheelchair you can’t even push yourself. That was the reality for Alice Moira, 81, when she first received her wheelchair at age seven. Fast forward to today, and while technology and societal attitudes have transformed dramatically, wheelchair users like Alice and 25-year-old Lochlann O’Higgins still navigate a world that often feels designed without them in mind. But here’s where it gets controversial: recent plans to slash disability benefits in the UK have sparked fears of a rollback in disability rights. Thirty years after the Disability Discrimination Act became law, these two generations of wheelchair users share their stories, revealing both progress and persistent challenges.
First memories of a wheelchair?
Lochlann O’Higgins: I don’t remember my first wheelchair at age two, but my parents told me I jumped right in, wheeling up and down the hospital corridor, thrilled to move freely for the first time. I have brittle bone disease, so mobility was a game-changer.
Alice Moira: My first wheelchair at seven was a heavy wooden chair with just two wheels at the back. I was terrified of being labeled ‘handicapped’ and refused to use it for a year, even standing during lessons. Eventually, they built me a table with a hole so I could work while standing.
School experiences?
Alice: I was expelled at 10 for not learning to read, later diagnosed with vision issues linked to my cerebral palsy. My dad co-founded the Spastic Society (now Scope), which opened schools I attended until 19.
Lochlann: I attended a non-disabled school in the UK after moving from China at eight. I was the only wheelchair user in my classes but had great friends who loved trying out my chair. Yet, I often missed out on activities like PE or football—a frustrating reality of limited accessibility.
Frustrations with mobility?
Alice: Frustration is constant, but creativity helps. My late husband and I, both in wheelchairs, would send our helper with a camera to places we couldn’t access, so we could still experience them.
Workplace challenges?
Lochlann: I prefer remote work as a freelance web designer. Commuting is too stressful. Now, I’m studying for a master’s in software engineering.
Alice: I listed my skills—problem-solving, communication—and became a social worker. I applied to 200 jobs, got one interview, and was grilled four times before being hired.
Finding accessible housing?
Alice: It’s never easy. My dad co-founded Habinteg, but even then, I struggled. At university, I had to find my own accessible housing, which was miles away. Taxis ate up my grant until I secured a travel grant.
Lochlann: Today, schemes like Motability make life easier, but challenges remain. In London, some underground stations still lack lifts, leaving you stranded. Accessible student housing exists, but it’s often temporary or expensive.
The joy of sports?
Lochlann: Playing rugby for the England universities wheelchair team has given me a community. Swimming, too, is liberating—you feel so light without the chair.
Alice: Swimming was my escape as a teen after leg surgeries. My sisters would drag my wheelchair into the sea until I could float freely.
Progress and concerns?
Alice: Wheelchairs have improved—no more wooden rims causing splinters! But kids’ chairs are still not as child-friendly as they could be.
Lochlann: Technology like Google Maps helps, but proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are alarming. It’s already hard to access these funds, and sports equipment like specialized wheelchairs costs thousands. Younger people often struggle to afford them.
What’s next?
Lochlann: I hope online communities and sports clubs continue to grow, offering wheelchair users more opportunities to connect and try new things.
Alice: Let’s stop asking, ‘How can you do this with a disability?’ and start giving everyone the chance to try. Progress is great, but there’s still so much to do.
And this is the part most people miss: Accessibility isn’t just about ramps and lifts—it’s about mindset. Are we truly designing a world that includes everyone? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going.
