WBA NewsroomSocial media was abuzz with the recent clip from the TV game show “The Price Is Right”, which had a prize package including a treadmill won by a young woman in a wheelchair. Many online news and media outlets referred to the young woman who won the prize as being “wheelchair bound”. Most people who use a wheelchair to get around don’t like to be referred to as “bound” to the wheelchair, because in fact they are not bound to the device. Most prefer more neutral language like “uses a wheelchair”.
Usage such as “wheelchair bound” and “confined to a wheelchair” are outmoded when describing people with disabilities who use a wheelchair as a mobility device. Not only is the language offensive to many people who use these mobility devices, it’s neither accurate nor descriptive.
You can refine your writing skills when referring to people with handicaps in this section of the WBA Newsroom site.
Posted by Tim Morrissey