Why do wheelchair users get a different treatment in sociaty than others?

There may be an element of guilt involved in the behavior of most fully-abled people who interact with those who must use a wheelchair to get around. It's similar to "survivor's syndrome:" "Why am I able to walk when this person isn't?" Then there's the "looking down" factor: like it or not, height is a factor in how most people view others, and people who have to use a wheelchair are perforce shorter than most others. But I suspect that most often, it's simply not having been in regular contact with those who must use wheelchairs. They simply feel uncomfortable because they don't know how to act.

I teach at a school and I have a pupil that is in a wheelchair she gets different treatment because the orther collegues notice she is different and that she needs help whenever we need to change classrooms they carry her all over the school but they never laugh at her they simply do something she can not so maybe we offend these people by trying to help it is not intentional

They are disabled and need to be helped by someone while doing work. They also deserve the respect in the society. Anybody could be disabled at any moment of their life. It depends on God's will and our fate. Fate is never known. So people who aren't disabled should never be proud of themselves. Let's help the disabled persons and that will make them feel better and happy.

Because you automatically feel sorry for them. You don't know why you just do. You figure your life ain't that bad look at that poor person. At least we don't have to deal with depending on people to get around Thank God!! Thank you God!!!!

They need to be treated better, except when they go 90mph through the mall on the electric wheel chairs, then thats not right.

I have had a spell of being a wheelchair user & am also a nurse & have cared for many wheelchair users with varying degrees of physical & mental disability. We should remember that, first & foremost, people who use wheelchairs are just that - people who need to use a wheelchair in order to be mobile. They deserve the same courtesy & respect that all people deserve - no more, no less! But they do also need others to be aware that because they have to use a wheelchair, they need certain special consideration e.g room to manouvere their wheelchair, help with reaching items beyond their reach etc. In my experience, most physically challenged (disabled) people want & need to be treated like all normal people. They don't want you to feel sorry for them, just for you to be kind, considerate & helpful. During my spell of using a wheelchair, I made a trip to my local bank with my sister & even though it was me that wanted to do business in the bank, the clerk totally ignored me & only spoke to my sister. This really angered me - I felt unwanted & invisible. I spoke to the bank manager about my experience & suggested that he trained his staff in dealing with disabled & wheelchair using people. Remember, just because a person has to use a wheelchair in order to be mobile, doesn't automatically make that person a retard, hard of hearing or any less a person than the rest of us. Until you have experienced what it is like to have to use a wheelchair, you simply cannot imagine the range & enormity of the problems & disrespect you can encounter.

they get treated differently because they have to depend in that device and they have problems getting their way around, imagine if you were in a wheelchair would you be the same and would you have the same ability to move around like you do now? think about it

Because they are handicapped. When you see someone in a wheelchair, think to yourself, "there, but for the grace of God, go I." Then be cheerful and extend any courtesy that may make that person feel like a normal person. It's really the only decent way to behave.

because people just like to mean and discrimate against those that are less fortunate...whether it be someone in a wheelchair or an elderly person. people nowadays just don't have respect anymore and it is really sad to see all this happening.