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NEW ISSUE

United Spinal CEO Vincenzo Piscopo: Leading From the Heart

Vincenzo “Enzo” Piscopo’s resume raises the question — what do you get when you blend an impressive background in corporate America with a degree in creativity and a passion for disrupting the status quo? Josie Byzek explores that question and more in her profile of United Spinal Association’s new president and CEO.

PRODUCTS

Testing the SMOOV Attachable Power Assist

There are more options than ever for manual wheelchair users who need a little extra power. We had Michael Franz, a C6 quad, give the SMOOV One from Alber a full test — from attaching it, to controlling it, dialing in the settings and using it to blast up steep hills — to find out whether it lives up to the hype. Read his report and final verdict here.

8 New Products for Wheelchair Users

Our roundup of the latest adaptive products includes a tire skin that lets you go from on road to off without changing your wheels, a neuroprosthetic that promises pain and spasm relief, a new “standable wheelchair,” a hands-free body drier and more. Check out the details, watch videos of the products in action, and hopefully you’ll find one that makes getting through your day a little easier.

NM LIVE

Meet NM Editor Ian Ruder

Learn how to get your creative work into New Mobility from NM Editor Ian Ruder, who says he’s hitting his stride in terms of assigning innovative content. Also, he hints at big changes coming in the near future, including a website relaunch. And he shares a glimpse at what he does when he’s not wrangling freelancers or dreaming up feature packages. Hint: As a quintessential Portlander, he’s definitely a foodie.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Rolling in Clubhouse

The audio-only social media app Clubhouse has gained a huge following, despite still being in the beta-testing phase. In her latest Media column, Teal Sherer talks with wheelchair users who have found out the app offers great opportunities to connect with other people with disabilities in real time. “It allows you to get a sense of who someone is in a very different way than the beautifully-crafted, sometimes superficial versions of themselves on other platforms,” says Maayan Ziv, a power wheelchair user who is active on the app.

PRO TIPS

Staying Sane During COVID

The threats to our physical health over the past year-plus have been well-documented, but the mental toll of the pandemic often remains in the shadows. In conjunction with May’s mental health awareness month, we’re bringing personal stories of how wheelchair users are coping with the myriad stressors in their lives — whether through physical activity, virtual support groups or a focus on self-improvement.

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