You will ask the children a series of questions about what they believe wheelchair users can and can’t do. This simple game is designed to challenge their perceptions and become more aware of the everyday challenges wheelchair users face. The game works by posing a question to the classroom before revealing the answer along with a picture and explanation Ask children to either raise their hand for yes or no, or stand up/move to one side of the room if there is space. Ask the question before revealing the picture on the slide

Can a wheelchair user play football? Yes. Whizz-Kidz runs clubs all around the country where wheelchair users can come and have fun, and try out all sorts of new things. One of the activities they can take part in is wheelchair football. Wheelchair users can take part in many different sports, including wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

Can a wheelchair user go to a water park? Yes. Morgan’s Inspiration Island in the US is fully-inclusive, and can be enjoyed by wheelchair users and those not using a wheelchair so families can go together. They even offer modified powered wheelchairs that don’t need electricity to work, but function with pressurised air instead.

Can a wheelchair user travel on the tube? In theory yes, but in practice it can be very difficult. Out of 270 underground stations only 76 are accessible with a wheelchair at the best of times, but quite often the lifts are out of use. There’s often a step between the platform and the train, which means a wheelchair user cannot get on board without a ramp. Many stations also have steps and no lift, which makes accessing stations difficult. A trip that for non-disabled people would be very short, can take hours for a wheelchair user – this makes getting to work, to the doctor’s or to a friend’s house frustrating.

Can a wheelchair user ride a bike? Yes. Adapted trikes offer extra balance and support. It’s a great way to get exercise and strengthen leg muscles.

Can a wheelchair user take part in a marathon? Yes. Every year there are professional wheelchair athletes taking part in marathons across the world. Picture of Whizz-Kidz beneficiary Joel who took part in London Marathon 2018.

Can a wheelchair user have a full-time job? Yes they can, but it is actually a lot harder for someone with a disability to get a job. Often companies can be more cautious than necessary about hiring wheelchair users, because they worry about the cost of installing ramps and lifts, or accommodating guide dogs etc. They get really focused on the disability, and they don’t see the person and the skills that they have, which is really unfair.

Language: ‘Wheelchair-bound’ V ‘Wheelchair user’ – which is better and why? Wheelchair-bound implies wheelchair users are miserable and ‘chained’ to their wheelchairs, it sounds negative. Most of the people we work with love their wheelchairs, the chair is a part of their body and enables them to do all the things they want to do. Conclusion Some of the things that we think might be hard for someone using a wheelchair are actually really doable and possible with the right kind of wheelchair or other equipment. We should never assume someone can’t do something just because they have a disability. And there are other things that might seem like they shouldn’t be an issue at all they are really difficult, like getting a job or travelling on the underground, which is really unfair.