New Issue

2023 Consumer Guide

Our annual consumer guide is full of hands-on reviews, product news and investigative reporting in all the major disability product categories. Whether you need an easier way to access your shower, are considering a power assist device, want to hear how wheelchair users are making money in the short-term rental market, or need to add some fun to your fitness routine, our guide gives you real world insight to help you make informed decisions.

Products

A New Hands-Free Option to Control Your Wheelchair

While high-tech glasses haven’t caught on yet as a replacement for a smartphone or watch, Ian Ruder reports that they do offer an exciting new way to drive a power wheelchair. We got our hands on the munevo DRIVE controller and are excited with its potential. “Driving with the device took a little bit of getting used to, though tilting your head in the direction you want to travel was intuitive, and with practice a driver can navigate quite nimbly,” he says.

Bowhead’s Casters Designed to Stay Hair-Free

Adaptive mountain bike company Bowhead Corp. has released a line of everyday wheelchair casters designed to eliminate one of most common annoyances: collecting hair between the caster and fork. The unique hollow-wheel setup also features stainless steel bearings and a modular design that lets you replace individual parts rather than the entire caster. Read the full announcement for details, pricing and where to buy.

People

Alana Nichols: Juggling Adaptive Sports, Advocacy, Motherhood and Media

As an athlete, Alana Nichols was always busy, crisscrossing the globe to become the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in both summer and winter Paralympics. But now that she’s retired from Paralympic sports, her life has only gotten more hectic as she balances raising her young son, working as a brand ambassador and advocating to lift the profile of adaptive sports. Her biggest takeaway from a life of throwing herself headlong into new adventures? “Sucking at something is the first step to sort of being good at something,” she says.

Pro Tips

Get Ready to Work with United Spinal’s New Employment Program

There are a lot of questions to answer before you’re ready to enter the workforce as a wheelchair user. United Spinal Association’s new Employment Work Readiness and Education Program aims to help you prepare for every aspect of your job hunt, including disability benefits counseling. “Our experts offer strategies to navigate benefits while simultaneously pursuing gainful employment,” says Lesly St. Louis, United Spinal’s director of employment and DEI programs. Participants who complete the 13-week program will be eligible for grants to purchase equipment like a personal computer to help with their employment journey.

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