‘Something needs to change’: Man’s wheelchair breaks down trapping him in dangerous position. Then he learns it can’t be fixed until two days later

For millions of Americans, a simple mechanical failure can strip away their independence in an instant. Chris Cox uses a high-tech power wheelchair due to a cervical spinal cord injury. Then, on a Saturday night, he found himself trapped in a “standing position” when his chair unexpectedly shut off and refused to restart. In a post on TikTok and Instagram, he noted that the situation not only stripped him of his independence, but it also came with an emotional hit.

Cox told his viewers, “I was standing without power. I couldn’t get out of standing mode without power in my chair. And power was gone. There was no reason, there was no warning. It felt like I was getting paralyzed all over again.” Additionally, he noted that standing for long periods is not only uncomfortable; he had “already been standing for as long as I am normally able to without getting stress fractures in my legs.”

“Now, if you’re like me, you might think there’s an easy fix. There’s five million Americans that use power wheelchairs. There has to be some sort of 24 7 wheelchair care, right?” he asked. Then he bitterly noted that Wheelchair repair companies typically operate only during standard business hours, which means he couldn’t get help till Monday, and was now stuck in bed. 

Stranded with limited options

Cox admitted that he knew he was privileged. “I’m extremely privileged to have an amazing father who was able to go through this Ocean’s 11 heist just to get me out of this broken wheelchair,” he stated. “But if he wasn’t there, what would I do? Would I have to wait for an hour to have someone else come and maybe get me out of this? Maybe risk breaking a leg while I call 911?”

This lack of access to timely repairs is a widespread issue that highlights deep systemic flaws. According to the Center for Disability Rights, the phrase “your wheelchair is like your legs” actually understates the reality. 

The center notes that for users, a wheelchair is a survival tool required for basic self-care, hygiene, food preparation, and hydration. This is why homes and hotels are designed to accommodate it. 

Thus, it is worse when these devices fail. The wait times for repairs are often measured in weeks or months rather than hours or days. The Center for Disability Rights notes that it is common for users to wait 6-8 weeks for parts or service, a delay that often results in physical pain, injury, and a total loss of autonomy.

The frustration is compounded by the fact that the same technology that runs their wheelchairs prevents users from performing their own repairs. Cox, who works in a wheelchair research laboratory, found it ironic that even in the best environment for repairs, he remained stuck because the technology is proprietary. As he put it, “Because it was more profitable to privatize my legs and close source everything that would allow me to repair my chair on my own.”

His viewers were angry for him and echoed his sentiments. One Instagram user shared, “My wheelchair died in 20°F weather next to a lake. The company was open at the time and I called for emergency assistance. They said they didn’t do that, and I had to call 911.” 

One TikToker pointed out the hypocrisy of current regulations, noting, “Wheelchairs don’t qualify as life sustaining is wild. They don’t expect people with ventilators to just breath on their own, why do they expect you to just get up and walk on your own?”

A few hours later, Cox made a follow-up post after talking to the repair team. He emphasized that his goal is not to garner sympathy, but to drive systemic change. He noted, “Five days is how many days I would have been bedbound, stuck in my room. Five days is how many days that I would have not been able to go into work and get paid.” He also pointed out that he would have to depend on his father because “insurance said I didn’t need 24/7 care.”

The Center for Disability Rights argues that this delay is often treated as an inevitable cost of being disabled, rather than a failure of the industry. Companies prioritize selling new, innovative models over maintaining the equipment that people already rely on for their daily survival. Whether due to greed or apathy, the result is the same: millions of people living in fear of their own equipment breaking down or getting stolen.

Cox also referred to the need for a Right to Repair policy, noting that his wheelchair is how he lives, yet “they claim that wheelchairs are not life-sustaining.” This way, a breakdown doesn’t stop his life, since he can make some repairs himself. He concluded, “Something needs to change. I don’t think we should, uh, close source people’s way of living. That’s just me.”