Wheel- Changes.

13.12.18 02:33 PM Comment(s) By Nadia Clarke

My first blog, my first day.

When I was 4 I got my first electric wheelchair, it was huge! I remember I scratched a car! My mum wrote them a letter to apologise, she wrote “I’m sorry my daughter is so very disabled”- hahahaha. 

The independence was amazing im sure my family worried they would have to pay for lots of damages as I raced around! We drove around in our car pulling a huge trailer containing my wheelchair – we looked like the travelling circus!

The first ever wheelchair recorded was for the king of Spain in 1595- I imagine it was made of wood and not very comfortable.

The first folding wheelchair was in 1932, that meant people could travel much easier, I have travelled all over the world and I am thankful wheelchairs fold up!  

In 1953 the first electric wheelchair was invented by George Klein and his team in Canada, he invented this to give independence back to war veterans who has been injured, without this invention they could potentially be in bed all day.


Breathe – 2017 – an amazing true story film! A must watch! Very emotional story of the life of Robin Cavendish – this made me realise how lucky I am with the incredible wheelchairs I have had from a young age.


70 years ago the start of NHS England meant wheelchairs for everyone no matter whether they are rich or poor. I imagine without the NHS wheelchairs would be very expensive, 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, wheelchair services are amazing to provide so many wheelchairs but often the wheelchairs are not right people are not comfortable and they have to wait a long time to be fixed. I think the way wheelchairs can be adapted to allow the person to be the most comfortable and to access whatever they need, for example in 2014 the first mind controlled wheelchair. 

I would love to see countries that are in poverty improve their services to allow all who need to be independent the chance to drive their own electric wheelchair.


In Switzerland in 2017 10 students created a wheelchair that can climb stairs!


This means EVERYWHERE is accessible. This would make my dream of traveling the world a reality.

I wonder what wheelchairs will be like in the future? Will I be 80 in a flying wheelchair? Hahaha I wish!


                                                                             Nadia – journey to journalism.