24 Things All Girls In Wheelchairs Should Know

    Here's what I have learned over the last four years.

    Louise Bruton
    by Louise Bruton

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    1. Look after your hands.

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    Wheeling and dealing will dry out your hands and nails so moisturise, moisturise, moisturise, or wear some gloves to protect your paws.

    2. Want to wear heels? Remember to bring Allen.

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    If you're switching from flats to heels, you can adjust the height of your footplate with an Allen key so your knees aren't too high up.

    3. Your chair is a giant handbag.

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    It has so many hidden pockets for make-up, snacks, or tampons. You can be the tampon mule for the office or at the party.

    4. But don't become your friends' cloakroom.

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    Your mates will notice that the back of your chair is a great place to hang their coat. Issue a two-item maximum and anything after that will cost 'em.

    5. Remember to pack a mirror.

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    Mirrors in wheelchair bathrooms are a luxury and most mirrors elsewhere are too high up. Bring your own compact mirror so you can maintain wandering eyeliner.

    6. Wear long skirts with caution.

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    Long skirts, scarves, coats, and capes are all at risk when you're in a wheelchair. Those front wheels are pesky little fellows and if you don't keep an eye on things, you could have one hell of a wardrobe malfunction on your hands.

    7. Tights will have a short lifespan.

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    Tights – for some mysterious reason – have the shortest shelf life when you use a wheelchair. Ladders and rips appear everywhere ALL THE TIME. Embrace your grunge side or be prepared to stock up on a weekly basis.

    8. There is no graceful way to lift your wheelchair into a car.

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    Believe me, I have tried. Whether you're in jeans or a skirt, there's no way to make it look classy. You just gotta LIFT.

    9. Your chair is a good filter.

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    Unfortunately, some people will only see the wheelchair, but it's a great way to separate people into the good pile and the bad pile.

    10. Some people will use sympathy as a pick-up tool.

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    Stop them immediately. They are the worst.

    11. But your lap is your greatest seduction method.

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    Seriously. Try it out and thank me later.

    12. Staying fit is easier than you think.

    13. You just have to think outside the box.

    14. You can redefine what sexy means.

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    Rewrite the blueprint.

    15. Long tops and high waists are a blessing.

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    Because you are sitting down the majority of the time, wheelchairs can make your torso look shorter than it is or cause your clothes to ride up. Long or loose tops will give you the appearance of a longer torso and high-waisted jeans or skirts can conceal any potential builder's-bum scenarios.

    16. The struggle of fitting your chair and outfit into a selfie is real.

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    Take the photo from above and voila! Very Myspace circa 2006.

    17. Invest in add-ons for your chair.

    18. Get a backpack.

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    Handbags can sit quite awkwardly in your lap and hide your body from view. Backpacks sit on the back of your chair and you can fit everything in them. They're a lifesaver at festivals when you need to fit absolutely everything in to survive.

    19. You will endlessly surprise people.

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    Some people will assume that because you're in a wheelchair, you can't have fun. They couldn't be more wrong.

    20. Learn to ignore back-handed compliments.

    21. "You're so pretty for a girl in a wheelchair."

    22. "It's so great to see you out and about."

    Courtesy of the author's pal Aisling

    Yeah, buddy.

    23. "You're so brave."

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    Whatever.

    24. You're not an inspiration. You're you.

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    Stella Young said it perfectly during her TEDxSydney talk "I'm not your inspiration thank you very much". You're not an inspiration.

    You're just doing you, like everybody else out there.