Ask Max: Do Wheelchairs Mean Giving Up or Finding Independence?

Your monthly Q&A with Maxine —Duchenne parent and HF Fundraising & Chrysalis Grant Manager

Your monthly Ask Max, a space where the Duchenne community can send in real questions and hear directly from someone who’s living it.

Last month, 'I Feel Burnt Out, Is This Normal' 

This month 'Do Wheelchairs Mean Giving Up or Finding Independence'

Maxine responds below and shares her strategies to try and cope as best she can.

Maxine writes:

 'Do Wheelchairs Mean Giving Up or Finding Independence'

When our son Austin was diagnosed with Duchenne, one of the things I dreaded most was the thought of him needing a wheelchair. Like many parents, I had a picture in my head of what that meant – and to me, it felt like giving up. After all, who wants to imagine their child spending life in a chair?

Austin is nearly 12 now, and over the past year the wheelchair has been making more of an appearance. At first, I wanted to save him from it for as long as possible. But when his manual chair arrived, something remarkable happened.

The relief on Austin’s face said it all. No more worrying about PE lessons. No more fear of falling. No more struggling to keep up with his friends. Suddenly, he had independence.

That moment shifted my perspective completely. I realised it wasn’t about my fears – it was about Austin’s journey. Introducing the wheelchair was one of the best things we could have done for him. It gave him freedom, safety, and dignity.

To other families who may be at a similar stage, please know you are not alone. It’s normal to feel dread or sadness about this milestone. But a wheelchair isn’t giving up. It’s a tool for independence, for inclusion, and for a more fulfilling life.

Our children are showing us every day what true strength looks like. Sometimes, embracing their last 'step' opens up new possibilities we couldn’t see at first.

With care,

Maxine