We’ve spent time listening to complex wheelchair users and carers across our country. What we heard was not just about equipment. It was about the effort, trade-offs and workarounds involved in everyday life. It was about the difference between having a chair, and being able to live the life you want with confidence.Some experiences came through consistently in the research, but we know they won’t be the same for everyone. We want to keep listening, understand where we’re right or wrong, and make sure we focus on the things that matter most.

Three things we heard clearly

1. Independence matters — but it can still come with limits

People spoke positively about the freedom their chair gives them, but that did not mean life felt unrestricted. Many still avoid certain places, activities or situations because of terrain, access, weather, space constraints, or the risk of getting stuck. The chair creates independence, but it can also shape where people feel confident going.

2. When something goes wrong, it affects far more than the chair

Repairs, servicing delays and reliability issues were not described as minor inconveniences. They were described as stressful, disruptive and deeply consequential. When a chair is out of action, independence, plans, work, social life and confidence can all be affected at once.

3. The goal is not just mobility — it is more life

Again and again, the conversation went beyond the chair itself. People spoke about wanting to do more, belong more, travel more, work more, and take part more easily in everyday life. Social connection, spontaneity, work, relationships and enjoyable activities all sat behind the practical discussion about equipment.

A few words that stayed with us

Some of the strongest themes in the research were about:

• avoiding places or activities because the effort or risk feels too high
• how much planning everyday life can take
• the impact on independence when something breaks
• wanting support that helps with life, not just equipment

Where we’d value your input

We’d like to know what feels closest to your experience. Please click the link here or scan below to go to our survey. Alternatively, you can email us here.

What happens next

We’ll use what we hear here, alongside the research already completed, to help decide where we focus next. We’ll also share back the themes that come through most clearly.