A latching mechanism permits a swing-away foot rest assembly on a wheelchair to be selectively latched into a use position extending forwardly from the wheelchair. Mating connectors are provided on the foot rest assembly and the frame of the wheelchair which are movable relative to one another by a transverse rocking pin which rocks about an upright lever axis in two directions to permit the latching mechanism to be released by deflecting a release lever coupled to the rocking pin in either one of two opposing directions. The release lever can be coupled to the rocking pin in a plurality of different orientations in the use position to suit the user. Camming faces on the connectors automatically align and load the mating connectors into an engaged position when the foot rest assembly approaches the use position from any one of multiple different directions. The camming faces also permit the connectors to be mated with one another in a wedging action to improve rigidity of the foot rest assembly in the latched position.