Thinking about this a little, I wonder if some less awkward version of “wheelchairer” could be put into use. Akin to say, “biker” or “rider” or “driver”, etc, this gets away from the “oh noes, wheelchairs are sad” sentiments and can even include the part-time user of wheelchairs without reflecting poorly on anybody.

I’d suggest Wheeler, but that brings to mind the 90s cartoon Captain Planet – not an association I’d want.

What about “Wheelist”, kind of like “cyclist” or “motorist”?

But the people who are always described as “wheelchair bound” are usually already IN their chairs. Maybe they’re going to other chairs…

The biggest thing I’d ask other people is if you see us struggling with a door, please get up and hold it for us! (Though we got better at navigating tough doors the longer she was in the chair.) Some people did, but most people just ignored us. I promise not to chew anyone out for being helpful!

He did grow on me as the video went on. His humor didn’t seem to be cruel, and he seemed genuinely interested in people (which only makes sense; you have to have enormous charisma to do a job like what he’s doing.)

And “I can’t feel my legs” was totally great.

The first one I could see as analagous to “strollers are welcome at this event”, where it would be addressed to the people bringing the objects, not to the objects themselves. But the second, just no.

Mercer also did something with a university wheelchair rugby team, but I haven’t watched that one in full. It does continue the tradition of “athletic” (and, from the shots I saw, white too, although not exclusively male and high profile). I really enjoyed the video (hence sharing it), but had trouble assessing whether Mercer’s constant interruptions and talking over Hansen was more about trying to get his obligatory jokes out, or how easy many abled-bodied people find it to talk over or ignore someone in a wheelchair. But Hansen’s crack about not feeling his legs was too funny not to enjoy.

I’m happy that someone as high profile and Canadian as Mercer puts time into showing that people with disabilities (well, in this case, both men, and both athletes, and both white, and both high profile, but you know what I mean, I hope) are still able to do such things, if that is their want. (Certainly not everyone can – I can’t imagine how Don would handle something like that, since he’s got a chronic pain condition.)

I mean, there’s baggage that comes with all of this, of course, but there’s something to be said for it, too. (This, of course, is influenced by the fact that I like Rick Mercer.)

Part of the reason we specifically talk about ableist language here instead of sexist language is because there are many feminist blogs and works and columns and books and videos and the like that talk about sexist language. Our intent here is to apply both a feminist framework to disability-related discussions, and a disability rights framework to feminist discussions.

I personally think discussions about sexist language are very well covered elsewhere, but actual discussions of ableist language that offers both reasons and alternatives are not as common. (They’re out there, no doubt – no one here is blogging from within a vacuum or reinventing the wheel.)

If that doesn’t answer your concerns, let me know, although I should note that this is a busy day for me (Oh, Wednesday, you hate me so), and thus I may not get back to you very quickly.