A local high school student is sharing her experience using a wheelchair to help make a difference for others. Collingwood’s Ella Northcott, 17, has published a book called “I Am A Wheelchair User” where she tells her story, details the challenges, but also gives guidance on how to live full lives in a wheelchair. “I wanted to get the point across that even though you’re in a wheelchair, it doesn’t define what you can do and who you are,” Northcott tells CTV News. Northcott was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease that affected her ability to walk. “At age 5, I started to show signs of weakness in my legs,” she writes in Chapter 1. “By age 7, I was in a wheelchair. My life completely changed.” She and her family have found ways of adapting so Northcott can participate in activities just like everyone else, like using a sit ski and adaptive bike. Her family cottage in Bala has accessibility features like a ramp, a lift at the dock and a beach chair for floating around in the lake. She gives Collingwood a shoutout writing that the new town she and her family moved to is “nice, welcoming and inclusive.” One section of the book is aimed at how people can be helpful to someone in a wheelchair, titled “How to Support a Wheelchair User.” It lists things like “ask before you help,” “respect their answer” and “talk to them directly.” Northcott enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music and hanging out with her dog. “For her, even though it’s a personal journey, it’s not just about a disability – it’s about determination and courage and finding your voice and inspiring others,” her mother Gina Northcott tells CTV News. The public can purchase the book either in a hard or soft cover now on her website or soon at your local bookstore. The book is also on order at the Barrie Public Library.
