Wheelchair assignment essay

My Adapted Physical Education class has many challenges. Out of all my college homework assignment, there has been one that has truly been the most trying. I was going from being a completely able-bodied individual to and individual who was confined in a wheelchair. I had never imagined what an eye opening experience this was going to be. I am really glad I got to participate in the wheelchair assignment. I had some very interesting, embarrassing and informative incidents that helped me to understand the life on a wheelchair user.

I did not look forward to this assignment, because I had never been sitting in a wheelchair before and I did not know how to handle the situation. Anyways, my classmate and I decided to spend the two hours between 8-10 in a wheelchair. We got a wheelchair each and went to our English class at 8. It was not that easy as it sounds like. On our way over to the class an another classmate offered to push me. I was so grateful because I had no control over the wheelchair. I was going in all different direction and in a past that was to slow to be in time. I did not fully understand how challenging using a wheelchair can be.

Out first class was in “ Borbe” on the second floor. I had never used the elevator in that building before, I did not even know that it was an elevator there. We found a very narrow elevator with almost no room to turn the chair around. After laughing a lot, we finally got to class. My teacher must have known immediately that I was doing an assignment of being in a wheelchair and she asked me about what I had experienced so far. I told her that I was not in control over the chair, but that I still had time to get better. I had no one to push me after class, so I had to “ drive” myself over to “ the green” where my friend was waiting for me.

I have always been thinking that the sidewalks were flat and even, but I was wrong. The sidewalk was so uneven and sloped in all different direction. If I had been walking on it I would never have noticed it, now I felt everything. It was small hills all the way and I was really struggling! Some guys were looking at me and noticed that I had some problems. One of them asked me if I needed help. I did not know what to say, but I ended up saying: “ yes please”, so he drove me almost the whole way without knowing that I was 100 % healthy.

It was one of the most embarrassing moment in my life. I had 30 minutes left when I got to “ the Green”. I met my friend and we ended up talking until my wheelchair-experiment was over. I could not wait to get up from the chair! Having done this simulation in a wheelchair was an experience that gave me an appreciation for my able body. It helped med to see from the point of view of a disabled person in a wheelchair. Learning how to get around in a wheelchair was challenging. My respect about people with disabilities had increased as a result of conducting this wheelchair simulation.