The Wheelchair

A wheelchair is a chair with big wheels that helps people move around. Some people push the wheels with their hands. Other wheelchairs run on electric motors and are controlled with a joystick.

The History of Wheelchairs

People have made chairs with wheels for hundreds of years. One of the first known wheelchairs was built for King Philip II of Spain in the 1590s. Early wheelchairs were heavy and hard to move.

In 1933, an engineer named Harry Jennings built the first folding wheelchair. It was light enough to fit in a car. This gave wheelchair users much more freedom to go places.

Wheelchairs Today

Today, there are many kinds of wheelchairs. Manual wheelchairs are pushed by hand. Power wheelchairs use a battery and motor. Sports wheelchairs are made for basketball, tennis, and racing.

Modern wheelchairs are built to be comfortable and easy to use. Some can climb stairs or lift the user to a standing position. Wheelchairs help millions of people live active and independent lives.

Fun Facts

• About 75 million people around the world use wheelchairs.
• Wheelchair basketball has been an Olympic sport since 1960.
• Some modern wheelchairs can go over rough ground and even sandy beaches.

Did You Know?

The famous scientist Stephen Hawking used a special power wheelchair that he controlled with his cheek muscles.