Don’t let your wheelchair define you
Forty-nine years is a long time to live with any challenge – but Shaun doesn’t see his wheelchair as the thing that holds him back. Injured at just 11 months old in a freak accident, he’s spent nearly five decades adapting, learning, and proving that life doesn’t stop when mobility changes. Here’s what he has to say about life in a wheelchair.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy affecting both his upper and lower body – and his speech – Shaun’s early years were anything but ordinary. He had a squint, couldn’t speak, and couldn’t sit up by himself. He learnt to move around by rolling on the floor “like a snake,” a skill that earned him plenty of curious glances and a fair share of bumps and bruises along the way.
“I felt like a roast chicken on tables for doctors to poke and prod to see what was happening,” Shaun recalls with a laugh. That was the nature of life until primary school, but, thankfully, wheelchairs and medicine have come a looooong way since then.
These days, Shaun is blessed to have moved from what he jokingly calls “a vegetable diagnosis” to being completely self-sufficient and he navigates his world with independence and confidence.
Marriage, Adaptations, and Everyday Intimacy
Shaun is also fortunate to have a wife who cares for him, especially in difficult times. Together, they are what’s known as an inter-able couple – a “normal couple with some adaptations,” as Shaun puts it. While Shaun could dress and shower by himself, his wife helps out sometimes, not because he needs it, but because it makes her feel comfortable knowing he won’t slip or hurt himself.
He values the intimacy that comes with these times. “I won’t take away her agency in deciding that she loves me and wants to help me,” he says.
And true to his independent spirit, Shaun never uses his wheelchair to shirk any family responsibilities. He’s committed to building a happy life for himself and his loved ones, constantly finding new ways to improve his family life, and never letting his chair define what he can or cannot do.
Asking Questions and Changing the Narrative
Shaun has always believed in asking questions – the kind society sometimes shies away from. “People shouldn’t be ignorant and have a silo mentality that certain questions are off the table,” he says. He wants to make society more open to wheelchair living, to challenge stereotypes and change the narrative. His advice? “Be vulnerable. Be blunt. Don’t be afraid to talk about it.”
Humour is Shaun’s secret weapon. He can handle being teased and often self-deprecates to see people’s reactions. One of his favourite memories is from the Rand Show. A ride allowed him to leave his wheelchair a short way down a ramp while he sat on the ride. Afterwards, he decided to walk down the ramp instead of immediately getting into his chair.
“As I started walking, I shouted, ‘It’s a miracle!’” he recalls. Then, with a grin, he got back in his chair and carried on with his day. Making light of tough situations is Shaun’s specialty.
Life Out of the Chair
Shaun’s favourite moments are when he’s out of his chair, mostly alone or with his wife, away from the public eye. “Sometimes I feel like an animal on parade in a zoo,” he admits.
During his quieter times, Shaun immerses himself in music – writing and producing it – and has even written a book.
Funny Stories Along the Way
Shaun has never dated anyone in a wheelchair – although his romantic life has been full of memorable stories. In high school, a girlfriend’s mother caught them in bed in a compromising position and started crying when she realised Shaun was in a wheelchair.
And then there was the time he and his wife went house-hunting. Needing a ground-floor place, they were shown a first-floor flat. “The agent said it’s not a problem – they could just put a pulley on the side of the house to get me in and out!” Shaun laughs. “Can you imagine? Hauling me up like groceries!”
For Shaun, life in a wheelchair isn’t a limitation – it’s just part of the adventure. He’s independent, funny, blunt, and determined to live fully while changing the way people think about disability. Whether he’s making music, spending time with his wife, or joking about miracles, Shaun proves every day that life doesn’t stop when mobility changes – it just comes with a few creative adaptations and plenty of laughter.
To enjoy Shaun’s full range of humour and the story behind this man, you can order his book, Mission Possible, directly from his website at shaunvanwyk.co.za.
