5 Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Using a Wheelchair

If you’re reading this and you’ve just started using a wheelchair — or you’re about to — there’s something I wish someone had told me back then:
You’re not alone.

What’s coming might feel overwhelming, but it can also be transformative.
You’ll discover a lot — the good and the bad — and many things that no one explains to you at first.

I’ve been there.
And if I could go back to the beginning, here’s what I wish someone had told me:

1. You don’t have to “earn” your wheelchair.

Some people think they have to “deserve” a good chair — or that they need to adapt to their disability first before thinking about comfort or autonomy.
No. From day one, you have the right to move well. To feel comfortable. To choose something that fits you — not something you have to fit into.

2. Not all chairs are the same — and they shouldn’t be.

It took me a while to realize just how many options exist: active, ultralight, power, sport, off-road…
And within each category: different frames, materials, backrests, wheel angles, custom settings…

Don’t just accept “whatever’s available.” Ask questions. Do research. Get help. There’s a chair out there that really works for you.

3. It’s not just about moving — it’s about living.

A good chair changes your routine — but also your mindset. It lets you go out more, do more, feel more like yourself. When your mobility improves, your world opens up. And that feeling is amazing.

4. People will have opinions — but you decide.

You’ll get unsolicited advice. Well-meaning comments (and some not so helpful ones). You’ll meet doctors who don’t know much about assistive tech, and family members who care so much they end up limiting you. Listen, sure. But in the end, you decide what works for you — and what doesn’t.

5. There’s a community. There’s support. There are others like you.

This was the hardest one for me to realize. I thought I was alone. That no one else felt the way I did.

Then I discovered there’s an entire community out there — ready to share, support, and walk alongside you. Don’t hesitate to find it. Don’t be afraid to be part of it. If you’re just starting out, take your time.
But don’t isolate yourself. There are people — like me, and like our team at Agito — who genuinely want to help you find what you need.

Life doesn’t stop. It just changes shape.
And when you move well, everything else starts moving too.

Kenneth Lau
Founder of AgitoWheelchair user for 11 years