Missing the ‘Old Days’

I have been a guest at Disneyland for many years and have experienced the changes firsthand as an incomplete C5-6 quadriplegic

[“Disney Universe: “Changing But Still Magical,” March 2015]. I use a manual chair for mobility and really miss the days of fast access. I used to be able to access rides almost immediately. This saved a lot of wear and tear on my body. However, I do understand the need for change. So many people without significant or even real disabilities have abused the system.

Disney has the technology to provide people with disabilities an amazing experience. Its parks are top-notch in terms of accessibility, but some more education about secondary conditions would help make sure people with “real” disabilities get the type of Access Pass that meets their individual needs.
Robert Rohan
Fountain Valley, California

Grumpy Princess
Before I sound like a stand-in for Grumpy, let me state that the princess in me wanted the California Yearly Pass as badly as Ariel wanted her prince [“Disney Universe”]. I saved for a year. So you can imagine my disappointment when we could finally afford the $1,200 annual passports only to spend the initial two hours of our first park day stuck in customer relations. There was a mix-up with my husband’s card — something about our computer printout pass not matching their records. The same thing happened the next trip.
Andrea Frazer
Via newmobility.com

Triumph Foundation
The article about Disneyland was very informative. It is unfortunate that people abuse the system that Disney has set up to help people living with disabilities. What is also unfortunate is that NEW MOBILITY failed to mention the Triumph Foundation [www.truimph-foundation.org], which was started by Andrew Skinner and his family. Triumph is a huge driving force for the disability community here in Southern California. It is a great organization that helps people living with paralysis triumph over the obstacles of having a spinal cord injury.
Melissa Allensworth
Triumph Foundation

Baclofen Helped
I have chronic progressive MS, and tried most of the therapies you mention [“Bent Out of Shape: What About Contractures?” March 2015]. The thing that finally worked for me was a baclofen pump implanted in my abdomen. Painful spasticity is managed and future pressure sores and contractures averted.
Carrie Lamont
Via newmobility.com

Keep Up on ROM
I’m surprised that this many years after my injury the newly injured aren’t being counseled to keep up on range of motion [“Bent Out of Shape”]. Thirty years ago before I was released from rehab at Magee (Philadelphia), my physiatrist had me doing daily ranging exercises. I asked him how long I had to keep this up and he replied, “Forever!” I’m still doing them (just under 15 minutes every morning) and have been told that I am more limber than most nondisabled people. Your advice really needs to get out there to the newbies, but also to the PTs who get us up and going at the rehab centers.
Allen Bronstein
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Bits of Wisdom
Your editor’s being 70 [Bully Pulpit, “Geezer Wisdom,”] may not make him the SCI sage, but the fact that there is one more who is older than myself is somehow inspiring. Over the years I have gleaned bits of helpful wisdom from NM that I would never have accepted from a non-geezer. Go for it!
Dan Nicholson
Woodland Park, Colorado

Powerful Cranberry Supplement
An article in the 2014-2015 consumer guide speaks about the problem of so many para/quads — urinary tract infections [“Bladder Management for Women,” November 2014]. I’ve had those beasts most of the 68 years of my quadriplegia. But three years ago I tried powerful over-the-counter cranberry capsules from Nature’s Bounty. I take two in the morning and two at bedtime. Not a hint of infection in three solid years, even though I don’t drink nearly enough liquids. Check with your urologist, but they certainly work miracles for me.
Lee Goldstein
Prescott, Arizona

Beware Toyota Program
Toyota said they have a mobility assistance program that would reimburse me up to $1,000 if I purchased a wheelchair rack. They didn’t have clear rules, but once I submitted my expense for reimbursement, they all of a sudden put a weight restriction on it not to exceed 100 pounds. I went back to the wheelchair company and had him remove certain Items that brought it down to 98 pounds, but they are still denying my reimbursement. It seems they change the rules as they see fit.
Harvey Cohen
Via newmobility.com

History for Kids
I took my kids when they were younger children and had a wonderful day with them [“Exploring Boston’s Freedom Trail,” March 2015]. So fortunate that Boston has so much history in so little square footage. I might just have to make a go of it this summer on my return to Boston.
Nancy Hall Ratner
Via newmobility.com

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