What It Means to Navigate the World as an Ambulatory Wheelchair User
When most people think of wheelchair users, they often picture someone who is completely unable to walk. But the reality is more nuanced. Many individuals use wheelchairs while still retaining some ability to walk — these individuals are known as ambulatory wheelchair users. This term may sound contradictory at first, but it reflects a spectrum of mobility that is often misunderstood.
Ambulatory wheelchair users might rely on their chairs for long distances, during flare-ups of chronic pain or fatigue, or simply to conserve energy throughout the day. This group encompasses people with a wide range of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and other invisible disabilities.
Being an ambulatory wheelchair user often means living in a gray area — not fully fitting into society’s definition of “disabled,” yet still navigating significant mobility challenges. This in-between status can lead to misconceptions and judgment.
For instance, someone might see a wheelchair user stand up to reach something on a shelf or take a few steps and instantly assume that the person is faking their disability. These harmful assumptions can lead to confrontations, unwanted stares, or even accusations of dishonesty. In reality, mobility needs are dynamic, and a person’s ability can vary day-to-day, or even hour-to-hour.
For ambulatory wheelchair users, a chair isn’t necessarily a symbol of incapacity — it’s a tool for independence and inclusion. Using a wheelchair can mean the difference between being able to go to the grocery store, attend a concert, or simply enjoy a day out without experiencing severe exhaustion or pain.
It’s about access and quality of life, not about adhering to an all-or-nothing view of mobility. As awareness grows, more people are beginning to understand and respect the diversity of disability experiences, but there’s still a long way to go in educating the public and dismantling ableist assumptions.
Accessibility, Advocacy, and the Everyday Experience
One of the biggest challenges faced by ambulatory wheelchair users is navigating spaces that are designed with rigid notions of mobility in mind. Many buildings still lack proper ramps, elevators, or wheelchair-friendly paths, making daily life an exercise in constant planning and problem-solving.
Even in places that claim to be accessible, the design often caters only to people with permanent or visible disabilities, leaving ambulatory users to adapt as best they can. For example, parking in a disabled space might draw judgment if the person is later seen walking, even if they have a valid placard and legitimate need for proximity and reduced walking distance.
Transportation can be another major hurdle. Public transit systems frequently lack consistency when it comes to accessibility. Elevators may be broken, ramps may be too steep, and buses may not have functioning lifts. For someone who may be able to walk a short distance but not sustain it, these obstacles can become dealbreakers.
The need for reliable accessibility options is not about preference; it's about safety, dignity, and equal opportunity. It’s crucial for infrastructure planners and public service providers to recognize the varied needs of wheelchair users, including those who are ambulatory.
Advocacy plays a central role in changing perceptions and policies. Many ambulatory wheelchair users become vocal advocates out of necessity — pushing for better access, more inclusive language, and greater societal understanding. Through social media, blogs, and community forums, people share their experiences to break down stereotypes and build solidarity.
These stories are powerful tools for education, helping others to see beyond binary thinking about disability. They also highlight the importance of representation — in media, policy-making, and healthcare — to ensure that all forms of mobility impairment are acknowledged and accommodated.
Identity, Acceptance, and Redefining Disability
For many ambulatory wheelchair users, embracing the identity of being disabled can be complex. Internalized ableism and societal messaging often make it difficult to acknowledge and accept the use of mobility aids. There’s a pervasive belief that wheelchairs should be a last resort — a symbol of defeat rather than empowerment.
This mindset can delay the decision to use a wheelchair, even when it would dramatically improve one’s quality of life. Learning to see a mobility aid as a positive, liberating tool requires unlearning deeply ingrained stigmas and reframing personal narratives.
The journey toward self-acceptance often involves navigating a healthcare system that’s not always supportive or well-informed. Medical professionals may not always understand chronic illness or fluctuating mobility needs, leading to dismissive attitudes or delayed diagnoses.
Insurance providers may deny coverage for mobility aids unless a person is deemed “permanently” disabled, ignoring the day-to-day realities of many patients. These systemic barriers reinforce the idea that disability must fit a certain mold to be taken seriously, leaving many ambulatory wheelchair users in limbo.
But more people are beginning to share their stories and build community around the shared experience of being in between. Online platforms and advocacy groups are giving voice to the complexities of partial mobility, helping to reshape public understanding of what it means to be disabled.
In doing so, they are creating space for a more inclusive and nuanced conversation — one that honors the lived experience of ambulatory wheelchair users and recognizes the value of accessibility for all. Whether a person uses a wheelchair part-time or full-time, their needs and identities are valid, and their autonomy should be supported at every level of society.
