I remember being on crutches every year from grade 3 to grade 7. Like clockwork, it was a yearly event, with torn ligaments and sprained ankles. They were uncomfortable, a little painful and annoying to use but it never felt weird using them. It wasn’t uncommon to see someone hobbling around on crutches, especially an active child. As a kid, you would even get praised for having crutches. It was new and different, everyone wanted to have a turn with them and you would receive extra attention as if you had achieved something incredible by injuring yourself. Outside of school, some people would glance your way. Probably wondering what you’d done to yourself, natural human curiosity. But that was it, there was nothing malicious in their gazes, no shame hovered over you, because they were just crutches.

Flash forward to about 2021. I had injured my ankles so much in the past that they were permanently injured and extremely unstable. They had started rolling by themselves and any slight twist or hard landing could cause them to be injured for days. I started noticing that walking even for just 3 minutes, especially outside on uneven paths, was becoming increasingly difficult. It was as if something in my ankles was pulling, threatening to rip apart if I took another step. I would often have to stop or just push through, trying to walk in a way that didn’t feel like it would tear them apart. Making walking anywhere painful, long, and difficult. Eventually, I was able to strengthen my ankles to the point where even the occasional roll didn’t injure me anymore.

But it wasn’t until a couple of years later that I had the thought, “Why hadn’t I just used a cane?” I had been struggling to walk, and yet I had never once thought of using a mobility aid. Having something to bear weight on would have helped a lot. I would probably still move quite slowly, but I wouldn’t have had to put so much pressure on my ankles when they clearly couldn’t handle it. “Well, mobility aids are for people who are more disabled than you.” A shameful thought that I had that I don’t think I even believed. Using a mobility aid would be like crossing a line that, at the time, I was too ashamed to cross. I was still coming to terms with the whole “disabled” thing and, while using a cane would turn my invisible disability into a visible one, I don’t think I was ready for that.

There would be so many stares and not just curious ones, but the judgmental type as well. So many questions, “Why do you need it?” “But you're so young!?”. And of course the classic, “But you don’t look disabled!” Then there was the situation that so many disabled people have experienced. “How come you need a mobility aid for some things but not others?” The way the general public sees it, mobility aids are permanent. You can’t possibly use a wheelchair but also be able to walk and if you can walk then you’re obviously a liar or an attention seeker. People find dynamic disabilities hard to comprehend, so instead of trying to understand, some people just get angry and lash out instead. A story we’ve unfortunately heard disabled people tell too many times.

Consequently, we live in a world that makes others fear something that helps them. Something that can make their life easier, free them of pain and help them experience more. We have created anxiety around an object that could completely change someone's life. Disabilities change, people change, and with that, their use of mobility aids change. What someone needs today may not be needed tomorrow. And we need to learn to understand this simple concept so that we can actually create a somewhat inclusive world.

Raimy Rose Bio:

Raimy-Rose Lewis is a Personal Trainer, Disability Advocate and Host/Creator of the Sick Of It podcast, represented by Champion Health Agency. Born with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and facing a long diagnostic pathway, Raimy became passionate about creating positive change in healthcare and a better world for people with disability and chronic illness. Raimy realised that her disability shouldn't hold her back from pursuing her passion for nutrition and fitness and that there is a lack of disability knowledge in the fitness and health industry. Raimy has lived experience as a disabled person and strives to help others achieve their goals and ultimate health.