New Mobility Newsletter – August 15, 2024

Presented

Parenting from a wheelchair

Three parents who use wheelchairs share the challenges and joys of raising young children. Stephanie Arrache, Seth McBride, and Teal Sherer explore how they set boundaries, taught sports, and worked with their children to navigate an inaccessible world. Read all three essays, plus ones they wrote when their children were six years younger.

Air travel

Southwest Airlines announces change to assigned seating

Southwest Airlines recently announced that it will be dropping its long-standing open seating policy. We know that many wheelchair users choose to fly Southwest because the aircraft layout and seating policy allow for access to seats without an aisle chair. How does Southwest’s decision impact your travel planning? Join the conversation on our Instagram channel.

What to see

Quadruple Gods Documentary about e-sports

The HBO documentary Quadruple Gods Follows three wheelchair-bound New Yorkers who form the world’s first all-quadriplegic esports team. As they navigate the city, they pursue their shared dream of competing as athletes while simultaneously subverting assumptions about disability. Quadruple Gods is now available to stream on Max.

Perspectives

Finding the balance between work and self-care

In our on-the-go culture, it can be hard to feel valuable without always being productive. But when you have a disability, your body doesn’t always want to cooperate. In their latest Roadmaps column, Rebekah Taussig and Hannah Soyer offer their perspective to a writer who can no longer write like she used to.

Professional Tips

Ways to prevent shoulder damage

Wheelchair users can stay active and preserve shoulder health at the same time. We’ve put together some preventative tips and exercises to help avoid damage and the need for dreaded shoulder surgery, without limiting your lifestyle.