A woman in a wheelchair faces the Eiffel Tower, celebrating International Wheelchair Day on 1st March 2024.

What is International Wheelchair Day and Why It Matters

♿ What is International Wheelchair Day?

International Wheelchair Day, observed annually on 1st March, is a global celebration of the independence, dignity, and inclusion that wheelchairs bring to people across the world.

Founded in 2008 by UK wheelchair user Steve Wilkinson, this important awareness day exists to:

  • Celebrate the life-changing impact of wheelchairs.

  • Recognise those who design, provide, and maintain mobility aids.

  • Raise awareness of the barriers faced by wheelchair users worldwide.

💪 Wheelchairs: More Than Just a Mobility Aid

A wheelchair is far more than just a way to get from A to B. For millions of people, it is:

  • A symbol of freedom and independence

  • A gateway to education, employment, and social inclusion

  • A tool for living life on their terms

In the face of physical limitations, wheelchairs become a source of strength, offering users the ability to connect, explore, and engage with the world around them.

Challenges Faced by Wheelchair Users

Even in 2025, accessibility is not guaranteed. Many wheelchair users face daily challenges that limit their freedom and participation in society:

  • Inaccessible shops, venues, and public transport

  • Limited access to adapted housing and public toilets

  • High costs and long waiting times for suitable wheelchairs

  • Social stigma and ableist attitudes

These barriers remind us that true inclusion is still a work in progress.

💛 Why International Wheelchair Day Matters

This day is a reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go. It provides an opportunity to:

  • Challenge ableism and educate others about mobility

  • Celebrate the resilience and achievements of wheelchair users

  • Encourage more inclusive and accessible design in every aspect of life

  • Support global access to wheelchairs, especially in underserved communities

🧡 How You Can Get Involved

Everyone can take part in raising awareness and supporting the disability community:

✅ Share this post to help spread awareness
✅ Follow and uplift wheelchair users and advocates online
✅ Learn more about disability rights and universal accessibility
✅ Use your voice to advocate for inclusive change in your community

📣 Use hashtags like:
#InternationalWheelchairDay #MobilityAwareness #AccessibilityForAll #DisabilityInclusion #WheelchairUsersUnite #DisabledVoicesMatter

💬 Final Thoughts

Every journey deserves respect—no matter how it’s navigated.

International Wheelchair Day is not just about celebrating a device—it’s about honouring a movement. One that fights for visibility, equity, and a world where mobility, dignity, and independence are rights—not privileges.

Let’s keep pushing for a future that’s fully accessible and truly inclusive for all.

Love Always 

Alisha ❤️

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Alisha

Proud Wife, Mother and Nanna . We married 19 years ago in Rome, Italy surrounded by our friends and family. We have the most beautiful, caring, considerate daughter, she makes us proud every single day. I am nan to Alfie, our Black Labrador and he is my best friend in all the world, I love how he understands that just laying next to me is all I need on a bad day and on a good day well it is cuddles and kisses galore. Liverpool born & bred, I never had enough guts to ever move away. Maybe it’s on my cards in the future. I have an illness that has destroyed my life, that illness has led me to blog my life with no filter. I put everything into raising awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and I would do anything to make sure no one else has to feel the way that I do. We have fun in our little home and I do anything to make my family happy. Love meeting new people over the web and hearing their stories. I Love making new friends and just trying to make a difference in this world.
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What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

According to the NHS Website, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness

For more information please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

People with ME/CFS have fatigue that is very different from just being tired. The fatigue of ME/CFS:

  • Can be severe.
  • Is not a result of unusually difficult activity.
  • Is not relieved by sleep or rest.
  • Was not a problem before becoming ill (not life-long)

Worsening of ME/CFS symptoms after physical or mental activity that would not have caused a problem before illness. This is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Sleep problems.

Many but not all people with ME/CFS have other symptoms.

Pain is very common in people with ME/CFS. The type of pain, where it occurs, and how bad it is varies a lot. The pain people with ME/CFS feel is not caused by an injury. The most common types of pain in ME/CFS are:

  • Muscle pain and aches
  • Joint pain without swelling or redness
  • Headaches, either new or worsening

Some people with ME/CFS may also have:

  • Tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
  • A sore throat that happens often
  • Digestive issues, like irritable bowel syndrome
  • Chills and night sweats
  • Allergies and sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, light, or noise
  • Muscle weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irregular heartbeat
Information is taken from The CDC Website https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/symptoms-diagnosis/symptoms

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis does not have a cure.

Find a Dr or Consultant who listens to you is the first step

It is a manageable condition and depending on the severity of your symptoms the more difficult this can become.

I advise learning to listen to your body and what it is telling you. If you feel tired rest and if you feel pain find a solution to reduce that pain, this could be through pain medication prescribed by your Dr.

I am not saying that finding a Dr who listens or listening to your body is going to be easy as this illness is incredibly complex for some and manageable for others.

Having a Dr who listens to you or reads about the latest drug that sufferers are recommending can take a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety from the sufferer.

It would be best for me to point you to the above question What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? 

Most pages list the illness as ME/CFS or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or sometimes even Systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID).

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