It's hard enough to go through adolescence without having to overcome a huge handicap. Being a teenager in a wheelchair has its disadvantages. But you can turn adversity into your strength. Whether you develop a winning personality, soup up your wheels or drive an accessible van that kneels for your entrance, find something to make other people overlook your most obvious disadvantage. Read on to learn about be in a wheelchair as a teenager.
Instructions
1. Prepare for ignorance from people you meet. There are those who speak loudly to people in wheelchairs and others who may stare. Learn to ignore them, as their uneducated attitude has nothing to do with you.
2. Apply for grants, or get your parents to buy you an accessible van as soon as you get your drivers license. Driving is always one of the biggest events in a teenager's life and one you shouldn't miss. Learn to use the hand controls, and get yourself in and out of the vehicle.
3. Spruce up your chair with your own identity. Use stickers on the back of the chair, or paint it to suit your personality. Hang a cool bag from the back of your chair.
4. Smile and talk to people. Invite friends to ride in your van. Join in conversations and speak up. If you worry too much about how people treat you because you are visibly different, know that every teenager feels some anxiety about being rejected by their peers. Take the high road, and reach out to others.
5. Dance and join in activities. Roll onto a dance floor, and take a partners hand and let him swing you around. Find a wheelchair basketball team or racing club. Get involved in things that interest you. When you interact with other teenagers with similar interests, you can fit in just fine.
Tags: your chair