Ableism: Wheelchair-bound as opposed to wheelchair-user

[scarlettslegacy]

betacandybrought this up a while ago, about abusing the term 'wheelchair-bound' as opposed to 'wheelchair user' . The reason I bring it up is that one of the people on my Books on Wheels route is a wheelchair user - everytime I've met him he's in his chair. (And, incidentally, he's has the friendliest dog ever. This boy took about two seconds to liking me

Comments

[ext_647250]

Yeah, it's tricky. There is never any hard and fast rules, especially from person to person or even day to day. I, personally, downplay as much as I can. If they want to correct me by raising their status, then I can react with apology without being patronising. But I rather just get it right the first time. "in a wheelchair' as simple as it is, would be my bet.