Wheelchairs are tools for mobility, and therefore the terminology of "wheelchair bound" or "confined to a wheelchair" should be eliminated. A person uses their wheelchair, they rely on their wheelchair, they are not confined or restricted by their wheelchair. Please help us change the misperception that wheelchairs are confining.
According to Merriam-Webster, the adjectival definition of bound is "fastened by or as if by a band: confined." I really don't believe that every person who uses the term "wheelchair-bound" or says somebody is "bound to their wheelchair," is trying to denigrate the individual who uses the wheelchair. Do you hate the term 'wheelchair-bound'? What does it portray and mean to you? Our deputy editor Shannon, who uses a wheelchair, shares her blog post on why she thinks we need to change the way we talk about disability. Last month I came across an article titled ' wheelchair-bound boy gets custom Halloween costume '.
Although "wheelchair bound" and "confined to a wheelchair" are still in very common usage, we all have the power to remove them from our vocabulary. What is the politically correct term for wheelchair bound? Do not say: "Wheelchair bound" or describe someone as "confined to a wheelchair". Instead say: "Wheelchair user or "person who uses a wheelchair".
Wheelchair-bound, to some, implies restriction and limitation. On the contrary, wheelchairs are an aid to mobility and freedom, thereby enabling opportunity, inclusion, exploration and the ability to integrate with society. Many people advise against describing somebody as being wheelchairbound and instead suggest describing that person as being a wheelchair user.
It has also been suggested that the terms mean two different things, since a wheelchair user might not be "confined" to a wheelchair. People who use mobility equipment such as a wheelchair, scooter or cane consider the equipment part of their personal space. They can have widely different disabilities and varying abilities.
It is acceptable to describe a person as a "wheelchair user" or "someone who uses a wheelchair," followed by an explanation of why the equipment is required. Avoid "confined to a wheelchair. As an adjective wheelchairbound is confined to a wheelchair.
As a noun wheelchair is a chair mounted on large wheels for the transportation or use of a sick or disabled person. Abstract Aim Analysis of the concepts and development of a conceptual definition of being wheelchair‐bound and being bedridden. Design Concept analysis.
Methods Walker and Avant´s concept analysis method was used. A thematic analysis guided the determination of the attributes, antecedents and consequences. Results Being wheelchair‐bound and being bedridden are defined as permanent states.