VIDEO: Ross Care highlights positive impact of wheelchairs on International Wheelchair Day
Wheelchair services and mobility equipment provider Ross Care is celebrating International Wheelchair Day today by sharing a series of short reflections from its staff, service users and partners that highlight the positive impact of wheelchairs on individuals’ lives.
International Wheelchair Day was launched on 1st March 2008 by Steve Wilkinson to enable wheelchair users to celebrate the positive impact a wheelchair has on their lives and to celebrate the great work of the many millions of people who provide wheelchairs. It also aims to acknowledge and react constructively to the fact that there are tens of millions of people in the world who need a wheelchair but are unable to acquire one.
Ross Care put together a short video featuring seven different experiences after asking participants to record their response to the question, ‘How has your wheelchair had a positive impact on your life or those you work with?’. Recorded in Norwich, East Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Sheffield, these stories, the firm states, spotlight the diverse ways in which wheelchairs have helped support empowerment and freedom.
The video features Maddison, a bright young service user, and her mother, who share how Maddison’s powerchair has not only boosted her confidence but also opened doors to new opportunities, including becoming the first disabled prefect at her school. Alex Gourney, one of Ross Care’s staff members and a wheelchair user for 25 years, shares how his wheelchair brings him freedom, comfort and safety, enabling him to lead an active social life and engage with his community.
Clive Bassant, Community Liaison & Engagement Officer at Ross Care, describes himself as being able to lead ‘a truly independent life’ thanks to his powered wheelchair. His powerful words, ‘I am not wheelchair-bound, I am wheelchair-enabled, and I am wheelchair-liberated’ resonate strongly with the theme of International Wheelchair Day.
Andrew from East Sussex showcases his enjoyment of wheelchair tennis, while Peter, a service user of Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service, shares his journeys around the world made possible by his powered wheelchair. Simon, a family member from Hampshire & Isle of Wight, emphasises the essential role of wheelchairs in facilitating other people’s accessibility needs.
Dave Bramley, representing Wicker Independent Living, underscores the importance of tailored and high-performance wheelchairs, which often surprise customers as to the difference they make. Meanwhile, Tamsin Flint, Commissioning Manager for Kent & Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, highlights the broader societal benefits of improved mobility and accessibility.
As part of its celebrations, Ross Care will be donating wheelchairs to charitable organisations dedicated to enhancing accessibility globally, hoping to positively impact the lives of individuals with mobility challenges internationally, as well as locally.
The video by Ross Care in celebration of today’s International Wheelchair Day 2024 can be viewed here:
