What I wish I’d known in my first year as a wheelchair user
The first year in a wheelchair is a crash course in things nobody mentions. Not the big stuff — you’ll hear about ramps and Blue Badges quickly enough. It’s the small, daily friction that catches you out.
Cushions matter more than the chair
Most people spend hours choosing a wheelchair frame and almost no time on the cushion. But the cushion is what sits between you and pressure sores, pain, and posture problems. Ask your OT or wheelchair service specifically about pressure mapping. If they don’t offer it, ask why. A good cushion can cost more than you expect — but an NHS wheelchair service should provide one if you’re assessed as needing it.
People will react strangely
Some people talk over you. Some crouch down. Some grab your chair without asking. Some congratulate you for being in a shop. None of this is your problem to fix. Work out your own responses for the situations that bother you most, and give yourself permission to ignore the rest.
Learn your door widths
Your wheelchair has an overall width. Doors have a clear opening. Know both numbers. It saves you the daily lottery of ‘will I fit?’ and lets you plan visits without anxiety. Access Stamp’s ‘Will it fit?’ tool does exactly this — you enter your chair width and we check it against audited venue measurements.
Transfers take practice
Whether you’re sliding, standing, or using a hoist, transfers improve with repetition and technique. Ask for a physiotherapy or occupational therapy review specifically about transfers — not just the destination (car, bed, toilet), but the technique, the surface height, and what happens if something goes wrong.
You’ll need a repair plan
Wheelchairs break. Castors seize, tyres puncture, joysticks fail. Know your wheelchair service repair number, have a backup plan for getting home, and keep a basic toolkit if you’re able to do minor fixes. Our emergency guide covers this in detail.
It does get easier
Not because the world becomes more accessible, but because you learn the shortcuts, the workarounds, and the people worth listening to. The first year is the steepest curve. Give yourself time.