New Mobility Magazine
See the latest articles on topics related to someone using a wheelchair.
May 2020
Features
Life in the Time of Covid-19
Covid-19 has affected all of our lives in more ways than we are even aware of yet. To help make sense of the all-too-confusing present, we've assembled a snapshot of the post-Covid world we are living in.
News
Family Fun in the Summer Time
There’s no reason to stay on the sidelines when the family heads outside for summer activities.
Caring for Your Parents From a Wheelchair
Your parents were there for you when you most needed them, and now it’s your turn to give back.
Health and Safety in the Time of COVID-19
Your COVID-19 questions answered.
Columns
Artist Brogan Joe Murphy
Brogan Joe Murphy was trained classically as a realist oil painter, but his art was put on hold after back surgery complications made him a paraplegic.
Vitaglide is Back. Is it Better?
An old favorite has been resurrected and updated to keep pace with modern options.
Asking for Help From a Stranger
There is no specific formula for requesting help that will guarantee a response from a person you don’t know.
Disability-Specific Recommendations for COVID-19
Disability-specific recommendations about COVID-19, including how to find information you can trust.
FAQs About COVID-19 and SCI/D with Mount Sinai’s Dr. Bryce
FAQs about COVID-19 and SCI/D are answered by Mount Sinai's Dr. Thomas Bryce.
Advocates Urge Congress to Listen to Our COVID-19 #DisabilityDemands
Disability advocates are fighting to make sure that COVID-19 legislation includes our community's needs.
Blogs
“Vote for Access” Tackles the Barriers Disabled Voters Face
"Vote for Access" explores the barriers disabled people face when exercising their right to vote.
Feeling My Pain
My eyes are closed, and I scan my body from head to toe. What do I feel right in this moment?
Call for College Stories
Share your experience in Wheels on Campus: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Colleges and Universities for Wheelchair Users.
Other Recent Articles
Art in the Time of COVID-19
We asked six artists who use wheelchairs to submit pieces that speak to these unique times. They delivered with themes of strangeness, isolation, anxiety and, ultimately, the power of art to ease us into the unknown.
Stardom Doesn’t Solve His PCA Woes
It might seem like Steve Way is living the dream. Last year, he gained renown as the feisty, foul-mouthed best friend in Hulu’s critically-acclaimed Ramy.
Happy — or Sad? — Rare Disease Day
On Thanksgiving you eat turkey, and on the Fourth of July you have a barbecue. But what do you eat on Rare Disease Day? As far as I know, there isn’t anything like a traditional Rare Disease Day casserole
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
During good times, a trip to the hospital can be a disempowering, dehumanizing and, dare I say, dangerous experience for a person with a visible disability. And these are not good times.
New Mobility’s Biweekly Newsletter Updates – March 18, 2020
By Seth McBride|March 18th, 2020
​
Welcome to New Mobility’s biweekly newsletter. To receive via email (mobile-friendly), subscribe here.
​
DISABILITY-SPECIFIC COVID-19 COVERAGE
​
SCI/D Recommendations
The media is blanketed with coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak, but relevant, disability-specific information is a lot more difficult to come by. Here’s a primer, updated as new info comes in, including what secondary complications put people with SCI/D at higher-risk, how to prevent infection and transmission, and how to find information you can trust.
​
Cancellations and Consequences
United Spinal Association recommends that its chapters suspend any social events, in-person peer visits and group activities. Many hospitals and rehabilitation centers, which frequently host United Spinal gatherings, are limiting or banning visitors at this time. The United team is also concerned about the risks posed to its members and all others who use homecare services since protective measures and virus-related illness may make it difficult for service to continue uninterrupted. The organization is asking anyone whose homecare services have been affected due to COVID-19 to contact United’s Resource Center.
​
Editor Ian Ruder: COVID-19 is No Laughing Matter
A few weeks ago, chuckling at the binge-buying of toilet paper (or kale, if you live in Portland) seemed like a reasonable response to COVID-19. It’s now clear that this pandemic is no laughing matter. “I think about all my friends and all the people like me who don’t fit neatly into the solutions currently on the table,” writes Ian Ruder. “If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it’s that we need better plans and a larger discussion about how we propose to take care of all of our people.”
​
Your Questions Answered
New Mobility invites you to submit your disability-related questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. You can submit your question here, and it will be logged by our staff. We will research selected questions by speaking with relevant experts, and within the next few days, we’ll begin posting answers on newmobility.com. Check back often for updates.