Myths about Mobility Impairments
MYTH: Approaching a person who uses a wheelchair could put me at risk of "catching" their disability.
FACT: None of the disabilities and conditions discussed in this section is contagious. There is no chance of "catching" mobility impairments.
MYTH: People who use a wheelchair can not have highly successful careers, since there are only a limited number of jobs they can do.
FACT: When provided access to work opportunities, persons who use wheelchairs can achieve a high level of success in a wide variety of professions. With the increasing availability of assistive technology and other workplace accommodations, there are very few jobs that cannot be done by persons who use wheelchairs.
MYTH: People who do not type a lot or use a computer will not get repetitive strain injury.
FACT: People who use computers for as little as two hours a day can become severely injured. A lot of typing is only one risk factor for RSI; others include remaining still for long periods, awkward positioning, poorly designed input devices, ill-fitting workstations, and poor posture.
MYTH: RSI injuries will go away when a person stops using a computer or typewriter.
FACT: If a person receives proper treatment (not just rest) at the first hint of injury, chances of recovery are better. But many people ignore early warning signs, such as fatigue or weakness. If someone waits until they experience severe, incessant pain before seeking treatment, permanent damage may be done and they may develop a chronic disability.
MYTH: You can always identify which customers have mobility impairments because those persons will be using mobility aids such as wheelchairs or
crutches.
FACT: The term “mobility impairments” includes many types of disabilities that may result in a wide range of physical limitations. These limitations may or may not require the person to use a mobility aid such as a wheelchair, cane, walker or crutches.
MYTH: Some of the equipment designed to assist individuals with mobility impairments do not lead to other impairments over time.
FACT: Some of the equipment designed to assist individuals with mobility impairments may also lead to other impairments over time. For example, a poorly fitted wheelchair may lead to scoliosis of the spine, or an individual who pushes a manual wheelchair for years may develop upper body joint problems or pain from overuse of certain muscle groups.
