Driving With A Disability

One thing that I think about a lot when I make plans is driving. If an activity involves a lot of walking, I try to make arrangements for someone else to drive so that I can participate to my fullest extent. This week, I want to talk about how I think about driving with a mobility disability.

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There are a few reasons why driving is hard for me. First, the position your foot is in while it is above the gas or brake pedal uses a muscle that is naturally weak for me. If I use this muscle for long periods of time, I feel tired, have pain, and feel weak in my foot. I also have to sit close to the wheel because I have nerve pain if my legs are too far away from the pedals. This means I am seated closer to the car than is ideal for my height. Parking is also a challenge because spots are often tight, which is stressful for me, and if I am driving a lot, I am more likely to want to use my disability placard to save some energy. Lastly, I can get back pain if I am driving for long periods of time without regularly getting up and walking. For all of these reasons, I try to get rides when I can.

Because driving can pose a challenge, I want to give some examples of when I do drive and when I try to ask for rides. I largely drive to school and maintenance appointments such as physical therapy and the chiropractor because they aren't terribly far away, and there isn't much of a reason someone would need to go with me. On long road trips, I do not drive as sitting in the car for long periods of time causes back pain. If I go to the gym, I prefer to have someone drive me so I can work out to my maximum extent without worrying about being strong enough to drive home. I have a gym membership where I can bring a guest, so my trade-off is that my friends can get a free workout if they are willing to drive. I also don't drive in the city, because parking is less reliable so I might have to walk longer distances. If I am going somewhere with a lot of walking, such as an amusement park or museum, I do not drive because I want to save my energy for walking. It is important for me to note that while I am able to offer gas money to friends for driving me at times, many disabled people might not be able to, as 26% of disabled people live in poverty compared to 11.5% of non-disabled people (Statista, 2024). While I do need to accommodate myself when it comes to physical activities, I have the privilege of not needing to use a bus, being able to access ADA parking spaces when they are available, and having a community able to drive me. Many disabled people do not have this and could benefit from a community willing to help with things like medical appointments and grocery shopping.

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Thank you for reading about driving with a disability. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!