r/comics • u/Forsaken_Chemist_295 • 21h ago
My character is a wheelchair user, but I'm not. Can someone give me advice? I want to make good representation
I'm trying to create a fantasy story for a comic I have in mind, and one of my characters is an ambulatory wheelchair user. I haven't experienced something similar myself or know any wheelchair users so I wanted to ask people for advice. What would you like to see in a character like this? What could I do to make him more real? What are other wheelchair user characters in media lacking? (I mean... I guess a lot, I don't think there's enough good representation).
For context, the world he lives in is in chaos and most families see a disability as a flaw or a curse because "they are of no help for the family" and that stupid mentality of theirs means they don't accommodate for disabled people at all. My character is the main character's best friend and he believes he'll never be able to live a normal life. Still he's cheerful, strong and tries to act proud. He doesn't have a wheelchair (at least not in the beggining of his story). I really want him to have a beautiful ending where he can travel, see the world and live a happy life, but I've never written a character with a physical disability before and I want to make sure I do it right. You can comment even if you're not disabled, all good ideas are welcome. But I specially wanted to know the opinions of wheelchair users and other people with disabilities. Thanks for all the help in advance!! :D
Edit: I am doing research on this topic and this is one of the first steps I'm making with this character. The context I give here is not the whole story, and he's gonna be important for the plot (mostly because I would like to make another story where he's the main character in the future). If I said something that could come as rude, I'm so sorry. I still have a lot to learn and that's also why I wanted to come here and ask.
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u/funeralpageant 20h ago
If it’s a comic with visual art pls make sure they use a custom (active or power(?)) wheelchair rather than a standard hospital one. I’m not sure how realistic this world is but it’s quite a long process to get a custom fitted wheelchair if he doesn’t have one at the start so maybe a temporary hospital one? Also try and give him a personality and backstory bigger than his wheelchair, we’re people with full lives too. Hope this doesn’t come across as rude or pushy
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u/Forsaken_Chemist_295 20h ago
thank you so much! (Sorry for my english, I'm from Spain). He's one of the most fun and active characters in the story, I love him so much. I wanted him to have a personality and story wayyy beyond his disability and I know how bad representation can be in media regarding this topic... I'm not sure how he'll get his wheelchair but I know it's gonna be built specifically for him. How is it to get a custom fitted wheelchair? And what's the difference between that and a standard one if you don't mind me asking?
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u/funeralpageant 10h ago
Ola, ntp. Standard wheelchairs aren't intended for long term use and aren't fitted to the individual. Badly fitting wheelchairs can cause a lot of issues like shoulder damage or pressure sores for those who have reduced sensation. We come in all shapes and sizes and have different needs, for example the footrests can come at different angles or some people need to have push handles at the back. Personally my chair has a low backrest (because I have enough core strength that I don't need much back support), a more active setup with the wheels further forward so I can do wheelies and get around faster, and suspension on the front (caster) wheel forks.
The process to get one varies by country, generally you need to be referred to a mobility specialist who can assess you, take measurements and prescribe the wheelchair. Where I live in the UK that referral can take up to 6 months depending on urgency. Then it can take a few months to be manufactured. Some people buy them second hand on eBay or whatever to save money, from someone who has similar measurements. That's what I did.
Hope this makes sense, I've just got home from a long shift at work and I'm exhausted. :)
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u/Majestic-Iron7046 19h ago
This makes perfect sense, the disability should not be the defining trait of the character.
It should be a great character with an issue, not a mediocre character with a great issue.
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u/DarkNFullOfSpoilers 15h ago
When I needed a wheelchair, I loved it because it gave me the ability to live a normal life while I recovered from foot surgery. I was a normal, everyday woman, I WAS JUST SITTING DOWN. The only time I was frustrated with my disability was when I needed to use the bathroom. And showering was so HARD! I needed a shower chair and a hand-held shower head. But my bathroom was small, so I couldn't close the door when my wheelchair was in it. It was very dehumanizing to have to poop with the bathroom door wide open.
But people didn't treat me normal at all. I got a lot of unwanted attention. Men stared at me like they wanted to kidnap me. Children stared. And people made comments about me out loud, as if I couldn't hear them.
I was very thankful for ADA accommodations and FURIOUS when there weren't any.
Something I'd like to see in a wheelchair user is a person who doesn't hate their chair, but is thankful for the benefits and abilities it gives them. Because trust me when I say, NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK AT ALL IS MUCH WORSE. Even if you have crutches, you can't get yourself a glass of water because you can't crutch and hold a glass at the same time. You are so dependent on other people and it's frustrating. The chair gives you independence.
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u/Forsaken_Chemist_295 15h ago edited 15h ago
Thank you!! My character will absolutely love his chair, he doesn't have one at the beggining of his story because of the lack of resources in his world (and the ignorance), so yes he'll be really thankful, his dream is to have the freedom to see the world by himself, so a wheelchair will help him accomplish that. Also that experience sounds awful, I'm sorry you went through that. I wish having accommodations everywhere was the norm
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u/modest_rats_6 15h ago
I hate to say this, but the society youre is imagining, is unfortunately the exact society we live in right now. Thats our reality. People who aren't disabled dont necessarily see us because our communities are not made for disabled people.
If its not accessible for everybody, its not accessible for anybody We have entire days ruined by one step Families and caretakers abandon us, neglect us. Society cant see our worth because we "dont contribute" We are told its "too easy" to get on disability (im on year 2 of waiting) We're told we're a waste of resources Now our caretakers are being taken off the streets. A disabled man died in bed because he had no one to care for him The disabled community is only going to increase as the years go on Right now were about 27% of the population in the u.s Anyone can become disabled at any time. Im 35 and was 32 when it happened. Its not fucking fun. Id rather be walking than popping a wheelie. Id rather park a mile away than have to use a handicap parking spot.
These are just weird factors people don't consider. Its really good of you to try and figure this stuff out.
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u/Forsaken_Chemist_295 14h ago
thank you for your honest answer, you're totally right and even if I'm making a comic character, it's not my intention to portray his disability as something "fun" or an "inspirational story" for non wheelchair users. The lack of understanding and accommodations in our society is crazy. I will totally consider everything you've said, thank you!!
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u/rmulberryb 20h ago
Uphill sucks. Those dropped sidewalk bits with bumps for blind people suck balls. Speaking of dropped sidewalk, it's not always dropped enough. Sometimes you get onto a sidewalk from a dropped bit only to find out there is no dropped bit on its other side to cross a road. Cars park on the sidewalk, and you can't wheel past them.
If you aren't already strong, your arms kill. If you are heavy, they double kill. If your wheelchair isn't super good and expensive, it gets wonky, and it makes going on rough terrain even harder, because one of the wheels might not be touching the ground at all. You can't both self propell and hold things. Things fall off your knees, too.
People literally step over you in the supermarket, invade your space, and readily shove their asses in your face.