My social life as a wheelchair user

From The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

May 2, 2026 · 24 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges faced by wheelchair users in social settings across different countries.

Imagine being dressed up for a night out with friends and being thrown out of a bar because your wheelchair is considered a fire hazard. When 18-year-old Maddie Haining was ordered to leave a nightclub in the UK it prompted a wider discussion about disability and accessibility in different countries around the world. Four wheelchair users - Maddie in the UK, Brian Muchiri in Kenya, Nadia Leila Carelse South Africa and Haleigh Rosa in the US - share some of the obstacles they have encountered when trying to socialise. Their experiences range from drunks in bars grabbing their wheelchairs to people praying for them in public. Even a simple visit to the toilet can become a problem. “I’ve encountered issues, even in a restaurant that’s accessible, where the wheelchair accessible bathroom has been used as storage,” says Haleigh Rosa, from Florida, USA.

People in this episode

Guests: Maddie Haining, Brian Muchiri, Nadia Leila Carelse, Haleigh Rosa

Topics covered

disability
accessibility
social life
wheelchair users
bar experiences
global perspectives

Keywords

wheelchair
disability
accessibility
socializing
bar
nightclub
obstacles
public spaces

Mentioned in this episode

Places: UK, Kenya, South Africa, US, Florida