03/02/2026
The joy and healing of nature is for everyone.
It’s International Wheelchair Day, and we are celebrating the mobility, independence, joy, and BIRDS that wheelchairs bring to millions of lives around the world. A wheelchair isn’t something that holds someone back; it’s a tool that expands access to community, nature, work, friendship, and everyday experiences. Wheelchairs are part of a person’s body space, identity, and autonomy, and deserve the same respect and dignity.
According to global estimates, more than 130 million people worldwide use a wheelchair to assist with mobility. It's vital to honor how wheelchairs enable movement, connection, belonging, and participation in all parts of life, including birding, outdoor exploration, and community gatherings.
Here are a few key points about wheelchair etiquette that help make birding spaces more welcoming and respectful:
🔵Never touch, move, or lean on someone’s wheelchair without permission - a wheelchair is an extension of their body and personal space.
🔵Speak directly to the person using the wheelchair rather than talking to a companion or caregiver.
🔵Offer help when it’s needed, but be prepared for a gracious “no thank you” as people are capable and know their ways of navigating best.
Wheelchairs open paths to places and communities, as well as birds. They help us walk, roll, stroll, gather, explore, and be present in the world. We are so grateful for the movement they make possible and commit to creating spaces where all bodies and ways of getting around are welcomed and valued as we celebrate birds and nature together.
Image description: The image is divided into four illustrated panels. A person with brown skin and curly hair sits in a power wheelchair with a mounted communication device in a rust colored long sleeve shirt and brown shorts, with blue socks and shoes. A smiling child with brown skin sits in a sports wheelchair holding a bright orange basketball. They wear an orange shirt and shorts. A small child using a wheelchair holds hands with two adults, one on each side. A person in a manual wheelchair leans dramatically, wearing a yellow striped shirt and red pants.
