New Mobility magazine
Encyclopedia
New Mobility, launched in 1989, is a United States-based magazine for active wheelchair users. This monthly publication covers health, disability rights, adaptive technology and lifestyle topics such as recreation, travel, the arts, relationships, sexuality, parenting, employment and home modification. It also profiles successful wheelchair users, including John Hockenberry
, Christopher Voelker
, Brooke Ellison
, Chantal Petitclerc
and the late Christopher Reeve
. New Mobility, currently edited by Tim Gilmer, received an Utne Independent Press Award for Lifestyle Coverage in 2006.
Maddox edited New Mobility until 1991, when Barry Corbet, a paraplegic from a spinal cord injury, took the helm. The title was changed to New Mobility for the Summer 1992 issue. In 1993, the magazine temporarily ceased publication. Miramar Publishing (later Miramar Communications) bought the title and relaunched it in 1994. It became bimonthly in 1995 and monthly in 1996. In 1998 its current publisher, No Limits Communications, acquired the magazine. In 2000, Corbet retired, and Gilmer, also paraplegic, began his tenure.
, which emphasized the need for cures and referred to people with disabilities as "patients." New Mobility defined its point of view with a lifestyle-oriented approach, inclusion
mentality and people-first language
. It was also one of the first periodicals to seriously address sexuality and disability
, and its provocative role in this area has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, and subsequently the Associated Press. The magazine sums up its place in the field of disability journalism with the tagline "Life on Wheels."
John Hockenberry
John Charles Hockenberry is an American journalist and author. A four-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Peabody Award winner, Hockenberry has worked in media since 1980....
, Christopher Voelker
Christopher Voelker
Christopher Voelker is an American photographer.-General information:Voelker is a full-time wheelchair user due to a spinal cord injury from a high-speed, motocross accident at 16....
, Brooke Ellison
Brooke Ellison
Brooke Ellison was the very first quadriplegic to graduate from Harvard University. In 2000, she was selected by her fellow students to speak at the University's commencement ceremonies....
, Chantal Petitclerc
Chantal Petitclerc
Chantal Petitclerc, CC is a Canadian wheelchair racer.At the age of thirteen, she lost the use of both legs when a heavy barn door fell on her...
and the late Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
. New Mobility, currently edited by Tim Gilmer, received an Utne Independent Press Award for Lifestyle Coverage in 2006.
History
New Mobility was founded in Boulder, Colo., by Sam Maddox to provide information about life after spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, post-polio sequelae and other disabling conditions. Originally titled, Spinal Network Extra, the then-quarterly magazine was a spin-off of the 1987 book Spinal Network: The Total Resource for the Wheelchair Community.Maddox edited New Mobility until 1991, when Barry Corbet, a paraplegic from a spinal cord injury, took the helm. The title was changed to New Mobility for the Summer 1992 issue. In 1993, the magazine temporarily ceased publication. Miramar Publishing (later Miramar Communications) bought the title and relaunched it in 1994. It became bimonthly in 1995 and monthly in 1996. In 1998 its current publisher, No Limits Communications, acquired the magazine. In 2000, Corbet retired, and Gilmer, also paraplegic, began his tenure.
The Niche
Early disability titles tended to reflect what is known as the medical model of disabilityMedical model of disability
The medical model of disability is a sociopolitical model by which illness or disability, being the result of a physical condition, and which is intrinsic to the individual , may reduce the individual's quality of life, and causes clear disadvantages to the individual.It is today specifically...
, which emphasized the need for cures and referred to people with disabilities as "patients." New Mobility defined its point of view with a lifestyle-oriented approach, inclusion
Inclusion (disability rights)
Inclusion is a term used by people with disabilities and other disability rights advocates for the idea that all people should freely, openly and without pity accommodate any person with a disability without restrictions or limitations of any kind...
mentality and people-first language
People-first language
People-first language is a form of linguistic prescriptivism in English, aiming to avoid perceived and subconscious dehumanization when discussing people with disabilities, as such forming an aspect of disability etiquette....
. It was also one of the first periodicals to seriously address sexuality and disability
Sexuality and disability
Sexuality and disability is the study of sexual behaviour and practices of a person with a disability. Physical disability such as a spinal cord injury may change the sexual functioning of a person. However, the disabled person may enjoy sex with the help of sex toys or by finding suitable sex...
, and its provocative role in this area has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times, and subsequently the Associated Press. The magazine sums up its place in the field of disability journalism with the tagline "Life on Wheels."