“Wheelchair bound” is a pretty commonly used way of describing someone who uses a wheelchair.

But it’s all wrong.

This is “bound”:

this is also “bound”

yikes.

“bound”:

This is yet another “bound”

and this is “bound” to a chair!

another “bound”

Here’s a wheelchair:

It’s got these round things on them called ‘wheels’

So the wheel actually liberates the person who rides in it – it’s enabling, it’s access.

It’s getting someone where they want to be.

Here’s a person who uses a wheelchair to do stuff he wants to do:

He’s not “wheelchair bound” – see any ropes there?!

Now, this guy is actually “wheelchair bound”

He’s got the chains!

This guy doesn’t –

He was just a guy who used a wheelchair to get around.

And solve little puzzles related to black holes.

This guy is “wheelchair bound”!

So, unless we see people who are actually roped in and bound to a wheelchair they are sitting in, “wheelchair bound” is just blatantly inaccurate.

People who use wheelchairs to get around are just that – “wheelchair users,” as in, “she’s a wheelchair user.”

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Originally published on Sept. 15, 2014