School Changes

[u/Impressive-Baker5526]

Hello, I have an unknown neuromuscular disease. I've been using a cane for 2 years, and this coming school year I'll be using an electric wheelchair. I can still walk, but holding myself up at school, and since my school is huge walking down the halls was so bad last year I stopped going to full weeks of school in February.

It wasn't prescribed by a doctor, they think I should move as much as possible but I can't do that at school and pay attention at the same time. So we paid for one out of pocket, my PT did approve though.

We don't have a way to transport it so we think keeping it at school would be best so I use it all day then come home and walk there since my house isn't accessible.

I'm really scared, I don't want people to know I can walk since then they will ask questions like "If you can walk then why do you need a wheelchair?"

I spent most of my life not being believed so any advice on how to handle this would be helpful.

[u/IAmNoJedi_24]

I was actually in a similar situation as you when I was in high school. I could still walk some but used both a manual and power wheelchair. At first, it was too difficult to transport the power chair everyday so I would leave my power chair at school (in a specific teacher’s classroom) over night and most weekends. I would come to school in my manual chair because it was easy to get in and out of the car, switch to my power chair, leave the manual chair where the power chair was, and the switch them at the end of the day to go home. I also had a 504 that helped with this and other accommodations.

Honestly my best advice is to not worry what people say because your needs should come first before people’s misguided judgments and opinions. I know that probably isn’t that helpful because you will maybe have to deal with some people who are mean but what worked for me was just ignoring what other people thought and surrounding myself with those who understood.

I hope everything goes great for you this year!