Hire Disabled Models, Not Actors in Cheap Wheelchairs

Time and time again, we’ve all seen them — the photos that scream “Look how inclusive we are!” when, in reality, they quietly whisper something a whole lot less flattering.
These images are staged. And far beyond your typical photo shoot.

The awkward truth is, more often than not, the models in these photographs aren’t even disabled. And with that, they’re taking away opportunities from models with actual disabilities — the ones who can bring more than just a smile and a pose, but lived experience and authenticity.

Look a little closer, and the issues stack up fast. The wheelchair in this image is bog-standard, hospital-issued — meant for little more than a transition period. That might be while waiting for a custom-made chair, or during recovery from injury or illness. They’re not designed for everyday life, and they certainly don’t offer the kind of independence being implied here.

The chair is little more than a prop, just like the perfectly timed laughter and the conveniently placed sticky notes in the background. And I see these types of images constantly — businesses creating content for social media or websites using the same free stock photos that thousands of other wannabe designers are grabbing every day, draining originality and flooding the online space with these fake scenarios. Canva remains one of the worst offenders for churning out glossy, cookie-cutter depictions of “inclusion.”

These staged photoshoots almost always exist for one reason: to manufacture a ‘feel-good’ moment. They’re a PR tool, designed to humanise a business or news outlet, to show they care — even when they don’t. If they truly cared, they’d hire people who genuinely live with disabilities, either as photoshoot models or, better yet, as employees — making the staged photo unnecessary in the first place.

And here’s the sting: disability employment rates remain abysmally low. Even those who are employed often earn less than their able-bodied counterparts.

This is an opportunity to do much better. Hire real disabled models. Capture authentic experiences. Pay people for their time and their truth. Every staged stock photo is a missed chance to tell a genuine story — and to turn performative representation into something that truly matters.

If you agree, please consider forwarding this to a friend.