A wheelchair-using adventurer and activist has delivered a powerful public message about consent and autonomy, urging able-bodied people to listen when disabled individuals decline assistance.
The incident on the jet bridge
Canadian motivational speaker Spencer West, who lost both legs aged five due to a genetic condition, recently shared a video on his Instagram account, which has 463,000 followers. The clip, posted ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, recounts an experience while boarding a flight.
"Recently I was boarding a flight and I was taking apart my wheelchair on the jet bridge just before the entrance of the plane," Spencer explained in the video, which shows footage of him dismantling his chair. "A very lovely and well-intentioned staff member asked if I needed some help. I politely declined because I do this all the time, and continued to take apart my wheelchair, and then this happened."
The video then shows a person in a high-visibility jacket approaching and moving to pick up his wheelchair without permission. Spencer holds up his hand to stop them, saying, "I'm good, thank you."
Why uninvited 'help' can be harmful
Spencer was keen to stress that the staff member meant well, but he highlighted two critical points for the public to understand. "If you ask if I need help and I say no, believe me," he stated firmly.
He then explained a perspective shared by many in the disabled community. "Second, many disabled folks consider their mobility devices an extension of their body, so touching those devices is essentially touching our body, and many of us prefer that you do not do that without consent."
A global day for rights and awareness
Spencer timed his message to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed annually on December 3. The United Nations established this global awareness day in 1992.
The World Health Organisation states the day aims to "promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development" and to raise awareness of their situation across political, social, economic, and cultural life.
Community echoes the sentiment
The response to Spencer's video was overwhelmingly supportive, with many other disabled people sharing similar experiences in the comments.
One individual wrote about a neighbour who constantly offers unneeded help, saying, "When I ask him not to, he says 'I'm just being helpful', but his help feels infantilising."
Another commenter expressed relief, replying, "I’m so glad you shared this. I’ve the same feeling on this and thought it was just me. I really dislike when people try and touch my chair to help. If we say no, we mean no."
Practical concerns were also raised. "I just don't want my wheelchair broken!" one user explained. "It took so much time and energy to get and the money needed to replace or repair it, along with the time and energy, would be more than I have."
The discussion also clarified that the issue is not about refusing all help, but about asking first and respecting the answer. One person shared a positive interaction: "I once asked a man if he'd like a bit of a push when he was struggling to mount a curb. He said 'yes, thanks very much'." They added that the man later discussed how "scary" it was when people started pushing him without asking.
Spencer West is no stranger to challenge, having reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and worked as a support for pop star Demi Lovato on tour. His latest campaign focuses on the everyday respect and autonomy that form the foundation of true disability rights and inclusion.
