When most people think of electric wheelchairs, they likely picture an elderly person or someone with a disability using one to get around. However, there are actually a number of famous individuals who have relied on electric wheelchairs to get around at some point in their lives. Here are just a few of them:
1. Stephen Hawking: One of the most famous theoretical physicists in the world, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS in 1963 and given just two years to live. However, he has defied the odds and lived for over 50 years with the disease. He has relied on an electric wheelchair for most of that time.
2. Christopher Reeve: Best known for his role as Superman, Christopher Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from a horse in 1995. He became a vocal advocate for spinal cord research and also used an electric wheelchair.
3. Joni Eareckson Tada: A world-renowned advocate for people with disabilities, Joni Eareckson Tada has been a quadriplegic since 1967, when she broke her neck in a diving accident. She has used an electric wheelchair for much of her life.
4. Muhammad Ali: The legendary boxer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. He eventually had to rely on an electric wheelchair to get around.
5. Stephen Wiltshire: A world-renowned artist, Stephen Wiltshire was diagnosed with autism at a young age. He didn’t speak until he was five years old and didn’t learn to read or write until he was in his twenties. He has used an electric wheelchair since he was a child.
While electric wheelchairs are often associated with elderly people or those with disabilities, as you can see, there are a number of famous people who have used them at some point in their lives.                    
Jul 15, 2023