CW: Death
If a wheelchair is broken, life can often stop. Getting out of the house can become impossible. Days become quieter not because they were chosen for rest, but because there is no way for someone to leave their bed. For many wheelchair users in Massachusetts, this is their reality. They have been waiting for repairs, and they waited for a state bill that was supposed to shorten wait times. That bill never came to a vote before the legislature adjourned, and the wait continues.
Waiting for a wheelchair repair is very serious. Sometimes people cannot go to work, school, or even leave their homes if their wheelchair is broken. Instead, people are stuck, for weeks or months waiting for their wheelchairs to be fixed.
Not having an appropriate wheelchair is dangerous. In 2021, Engracia Figueroa took a flight with her customized wheelchair. It was destroyed by United Airlines. The chair she was given temporarily was not suitable for her, and it did not support her properly. She suffered a pressure injury which became infected. The infection ultimately proved fatal. Her death is a tragic reminder that mobility equipment is highly personalized and that one wheelchair simply cannot replace another.
Repairs can get delayed, and parts can take a long time to arrive. Unfortunately, the risks are immediate. People can develop pressure injuries, and breathing can become harder. People lose their autonomy.
In Massachusetts, advocates have been attempting to change this. They have talked about waiting months for parts and the loneliness of being unable to leave their homes. They have explained how the delay in repairing damaged equipment has ripple effects. Their voices were heard, but they were not listened to. Despite this, the bill did not move forward.
Mobility equipment is not optional. It represents dignity. It represents freedom. Every day without repairs means freedom is denied to disabled people.
Sources:
Brooks, Laken. “Disability Advocate Engracia Figueroa Died after an Airline Damaged Her Wheelchair.” Forbes, 9 Nov. 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/lakenbrooks/2021/11/08/disability-advocate-engracia-figueroa-died-after-an-airline-damaged-her-wheelchair/?sh=722eb0f310d7.
Smith, Meghan. “Wheelchair Repair Bill Stalls as Legislature Ends Formal Session.” GBH News, 3 Aug. 2026, https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2026-08-03/wheelchair-repair-bill-stalls-as-legislature-ends-formal-session