When elevators were for pianos: an oral history account of the civilian experience of using wheelchairs in Canadian society. The first twenty-five years: 1945-1970

In 1945 Canadian World War II veterans with spinal cord injury were among the first Canadians to have access to medical rehabilitation programs, the Everest and Jennings folding, self-propelled wheelchair and automobiles with hand-controls. A previous paper, Going back to Civvy Street (Tremblay, 1996) described how the veteran pioneers used these new opportunities to return to full participation in civilian life. Drawing on oral history and archival research, this paper examines the experiences of Canadian civilians with spinal cord injury as they tried to follow the veterans' example. It discusses the strategies these pioneers used to overcome obstacles, such as stairs and curbs, as well as providing examples of their experiences in finding housing, education and employment. The paper reviews the responses individuals received from their fellow citizens and highlights the limited recognition of architectural barriers in an era when elevators were for pianos!