So you think wheelchair comedy is all about those tear-jerker stories or, you know, the ‘look how brave I am’ stuff? That’s what a lot of people seem to be expecting, or at least, that’s what comes to mind for many.
Well, I decided to actually try and figure this thing out a bit. Not by watching a bunch of slick Netflix specials, but by actually, you know, getting my hands dirty. I started to think about what I find funny, what annoys me, the everyday daftness of navigating the world on wheels. I even tried to jot some stuff down, just for myself, see if there was anything there.
First off, it’s not as simple as just listing grievances. Nobody wants to hear a long whinge, even if it’s dressed up as jokes. I found that out pretty quick. My first few attempts were just… bad. Really bad. I wrote down some stuff about how annoying automatic doors can be when they don’t see you, or the classic ‘can you reach that for me?’ scenario. It felt flat. Like I was stating the obvious.
Then I had this experience at a local shop. Brand new ramp they’d put in. Looked fancy. But the angle, man, it was like trying to go up a ski jump. I nearly ended up on my backside. Later, I was telling my mate about it, and instead of just complaining, I started describing it like it was some kind of Olympic event, the ‘Extreme Grocery Run’. He was in stitches. And it kinda clicked for me. It wasn’t just about the ramp being bad; it was the absurdity of it, the good intentions gone hilariously wrong. That’s where the funny was hiding.
So, I started looking for those kinds of things. The disconnects. The moments where people try to be helpful but just make things weirder. Like when someone talks to the person you’re with, instead of directly to you. Or when they shout. Why do they shout? My ears work fine, it’s my legs that are dodgy!
I also realized that a lot of it is about shared experience, but not just with other wheelchair users. When you hit on something universal, like feeling awkward or dealing with clueless people, that’s when it lands better. It’s not about ‘us vs them’, it’s about ‘isn’t life ridiculous sometimes for all of us, and here’s my particular flavour of ridiculous’.
My ‘practice’ is still very much me, a notebook, and a lot of crossed-out lines. I haven’t exactly booked a stadium tour. But it’s been an eye-opener. It’s tough. You’re always walking a line. You don’t want to be bitter, but you also don’t want to be all sunshine and rainbows because, let’s be honest, sometimes things are just plain daft or frustrating. Finding that balance, that’s the real trick I’m slowly, very slowly, trying to get a feel for. It’s more about observing and just trying to frame the everyday chaos in a way that makes me chuckle. If someone else does too, bonus.
