International Wheelchair Day on March 1 to celebrate independence a wheelchair provides

The subject of a wheelchair always raises most spinal cord injured’s blood pressure: you hate them but can’t live without them if you can’t walk. So, it was interesting when we learned, for the first time, about a so-called International Wheelchair Day, being celebrated on Fri., March 1st.

The idea was the brainchild of Steve Wilkinson who was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at the age of 2. “In the same way my wheelchair gives me freedom to get out and about and enjoy life to the full, International Wheelchair Day provides an occasion for the millions of wheelchair users around the World to celebrate the positive impact a wheelchair has on their lives,” explains Steve.

But what is it about a wheelchair that needs to be celebrated, you might ask? Despite the many challenges in the U.S. involving securing and paying for a wheelchair, in many under-developed countries, a wheelchair can simply become unavailable for anyone who requires one to get around. The aim of this day is:

• To enable wheelchair users to celebrate the positive impact a wheelchair has in their lives.

• To celebrate the great work of the many millions of people who provide wheelchairs, who provide support and care for wheelchair users and who make the World a better and more accessible place for people with mobility issues.

• To acknowledge and react constructively to the fact there are many tens of millions of people in the World who need a wheelchair, but are unable to acquire one.

You can learn more about the work of the organization Steve founded by going to their:
WEB SITE
FACEBOOK PAGE