Roughly 1.7% of the U.S. population is paraplegic, and the workspace has been steadily making accommodations for the differently-abled. Thanks to the changing nature of work and mandatory accessibility in specific workplaces, wheelchair users now have a wide range of job options to choose from.
The most accessible jobs for wheelchair users include teaching, freelance writing, graphic designing, and translating. Remote jobs are always accessible to wheelchair users, and today there are plenty of on-site jobs that cater to wheelchair-using employees too.
In this article, I’ll provide a list of the most accessible jobs for wheelchair users and outline the requirements of each role. Let’s get started!
1. Freelance Writer
- Average Salary: between $20 and $100 per 1000 words.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- High Demand: 109,591 writer jobs are available on
Wheelchair users with a penchant for the written word can find solace in knowing that writing has been the salvation of many 9-to-5-ers. If you possess the skills to create engaging stories or sell a product through words alone, there are plenty of jobs out there for you.
And writing is a skill you can develop even if you lack the flair for it at first. Fortunately, remote roles like this have become increasingly popular after the pandemic. So there’s a blueprint for becoming a freelance writer, and anyone with an internet connection, a laptop, and several cups of coffee can start writing.
You can use websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and LinkedIn to find clients. Setting up a profile and landing your first gig may take a while. However, it gets much easier once you get started.
Requirements:
- A computer/laptop.
- Internet Connection.
- Basic grammar and writing skills.
2. Graphic Designer
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 63 graphic designer jobs are available on
Graphic designing is another remote role many young people are flocking towards today. And if you’re a creative type looking to express yourself (within your client’s scope), then this role is perfect. One of the advantages of graphic design is that anyone can learn the basic skills required for the job by doing an online course or even researching the role by themselves.
And while you may not always get the work you’re looking for (most freelancers don’t), it’s a valuable skill to possess, considering how in-demand graphic designers are in today’s marketplace.
Requirements:
- A computer/laptop.
- Basic graphic design skills (which you can learn online).
3. Teacher
- Salary: $21 per hour.
- Workload: 83% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 4,743 teacher jobs are available on
Being a teacher can be an enjoyable but sometimes thankless job. However, if you’re looking for regular human interaction, few jobs will give you the personal connections you will experience as a teacher.
In the past decade, most universities and schools have become wheelchair accessible, with students and staff requiring the amenities. Therefore, a teaching role will give you non-remote work that’s easy to handle, thanks to the nature of the workplace.
Teachers aren’t required to lift heavy objects or perform strenuous physical tasks. As a result, the nature of the job provides equal opportunities for anyone taking up the role. Teaching is a profession where wheelchair users offer the same services as anyone else, which can help create a feeling of equality.
And if you don’t want to teach in a school, there are always opportunities to teach kids, teens, or even adults online. In most cases, these online sessions won’t be like regular classes. Instead, you’ll be tutoring individuals or small groups of students.
Requirements:
- Usually required: A B. Ed. degree (Bachelor of Education).
- Additional qualifications may be required if you’re teaching in a specialized field.
4. Medical Office Assistant
- Average Salary: between $17 and $25 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 50 medical office assistant jobs are available on
Being a medical office assistant is another role that requires in-person interactions. And the best part is that this role involves sitting in a hospital, which is probably the most accessible place for those using wheelchairs.
As a medical office assistant, your job will be to prepare schedules, answer hospital calls, file data, and perform other clerical and administrative tasks. Being in a hospital also gives you a chance to be around people who need support, and few things are as gratifying as being able to help someone in need.
Requirements:
- A high school diploma or GED.
- Preferred: A certificate from an approved medical office assistant program.
- Preferred: A few years of experience as a medical office assistant under supervision.
5. Accountant
- Average Salary: $53,000 per year.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 8,071 accountant jobs are available on
If you have a background in accounting and finance, being an accountant is the ideal way to exercise your skills. The best part about this role is that it’s always in demand, and companies are constantly looking to hire those competent enough. And as with the other positions mentioned here, you can continue to build your skills on the job.
However, keep in mind that accounting means managing someone else’s money, either a company or an individual. So the margin for error is extremely low, even non-existent. So you have to be pretty sure about what you’re doing here.
Fortunately, depending on the situation, you can opt for remote work or an in-person role. Some accounting firms have facilities for people with paraplegia and would be happy to hire wheelchair users as long as they possess the required skills.
Alternatively, you can also apply for freelance accounting positions, taking up jobs and offers from smaller companies and individuals.
If you want to find interesting accounting jobs, read this article: Best Careers in Accounting That Are Not Boring.
Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting or business.
6. Transcriber
- Salary: $22 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 16 transcriber jobs are available on
Transcribing involves writing out the words you hear on an audio file. This text is often crucial for a company’s marketing strategy or for creating subtitles for TV shows and movies.
Like other freelance roles out there, transcribing requires very little investment to get started. However, you will need to steadily build a profile if you want regular, high-paying work.
Moreover, you don’t have to pick up a new skill to start transcribing. You should be able to listen well and have a grasp of the language being spoken, so you don’t make spelling mistakes.
Requirements:
- An internet connection and computer.
7. Counselor
- Salary: $23 per hour.
- Workload: 92% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 1,912 counselor jobs are available on
In today’s world, there’s an increasing awareness of mental health and an emphasis on therapy and its benefits. Becoming a therapist or counselor is one of the best jobs for paraplegics, thanks to the nature of the role.
Today you can conduct therapy sessions from the comfort of your home through a screen. Your clients still get the same session, and you don’t have to spend time traveling to and from a workplace.
However, some people prefer in-person sessions, where they can see their therapist. In this case, you can ask your clients to come to see you in your house and let the household know when your sessions will be conducted.
Either way, therapy is an excellent way to give back to people while earning a decent salary. People want to invest in their health, and their mental state is a big part of this investment. So, you can rest assured that you’ll always have clients come knocking at your door.
Additionally, being a wheelchair user can help you draw on your own struggles in life, helping you become more empathetic and attuned to what other people are going through. And there’s always a shortage of kindness and compassion in people’s lives that you can help fill with your understanding of the world.
Requirements:
- A master’s degree in counseling.
- A license allowing you to open your own therapy practice.
- Completion of a specific number of internship hours.
8. Translator
- Salary: $25 per hour.
- Workload: 91% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,689 translator jobs are available on
If you know a foreign language or two, getting a job as a translator should be a cinch. There are plenty of freelance portals where you’ll find hundreds of clients uploading their requirements for translators. And while you should be able to land in-person roles, it’s easier to sit in the coziness of your home and get work done.
Being a translator requires you to know both languages well enough to engage in conversation. However, the depth of your knowledge will determine the kind of translation jobs you will find.
For example, if you’re translating blog articles on simple topics, you may not need such in-depth knowledge of the language. However, you will need a deeper understanding if you translate academic research papers or e-books.
Requirements:
- It would help if you had at least a bachelor’s degree for official translation roles. However, most employers overlook your qualifications if you are proficient in the two required languages.
9. Affiliate Marketer
- Average Salary: you get a commission for each sale.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 5 affiliate marketer jobs are available on
Affiliate marketing is another incredibly lucrative career in today’s event-changing work world. In essence, you market products for another company and receive a commission every time there’s a purchase. Affiliate marketing may sound pretty straightforward (and it is), but you’ll need some trial and error before you figure out the gist of it.
One of the cool things about affiliate marketing, like other freelance roles, is that you can cater to multiple clients and earn commissions. All you need to get started is an internet connection and a laptop.
In fact, you don’t even require a laptop if you’ve got the hang of working on social media through your phone.
Requirements:
- An internet connection and phone.
- Preferred: prior experience or proof of work.
10. Software Engineer
- Average Salary: $120,000 a year.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 4,294 software engineering jobs are available on
Probably one of the most in-demand jobs in today’s economy, software engineering is the surest way to earn a high salary. Fortunately, several online courses and videos teach the basics of programming. And while you may spend considerable time developing this skill, it will repay you a hundred times over.
Additionally, this is a remote role, and you can carry it out on a freelance basis if required. However, if you happen to land a job in a company with wheelchair-friendly facilities, consider joining.
While working from home can be great, computer programming involves little human interaction, so it’s best to ensure you’re getting enough.
Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in computers and information technology.
- Some employers only hire programmers with knowledge of specific programming languages.
11. Academic Researcher
- Salary: $34 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 7 academic researcher jobs are available on
Academic researchers conduct laboratory trials and investigations to produce certain phenomena, and this information is analyzed and recorded for various purposes.
Most universities and government buildings will have facilities for wheelchair users, and you should be able to apply for plenty of jobs. The only catch is you have to know what field you want to research and have the required credentials and experience.
Requirements:
- A degree in whatever field you’re researching.
- Some organizations may require prior research or assisted research experience.
As you can see, there are plenty of jobs for wheelchair users, many of which don’t require you to move to and from a workplace. However, some of us may prefer real human interaction and you’ll find enough companies with facilities to cater to your needs.