Who uses a wheelchair?
- Someone who has experienced a trauma such as a spinal cord disorder or
amputation.
- A person with a genetic condition, like muscular dystrophy.
- A person with a progressive condition, such as multiple sclerosis.
- Someone who's had a brain trauma or stroke, which can affect people of
any age.
- Children born with a disabling condition, such as cerebral palsy or
spina bifida.
- Elderly people, due to falls, arthritis or rheumatism.
SEBASTOPOL, CA -- These are just a few examples of the 1.5 million people in
the U.S. who use a wheelchair. Despite the seemingly similar features of a
given disability, each person will experience life differently. What they
have in common is the fact that they are able to live fuller lives than the
general society believes possible.
To help address the diversity of experiences and demonstrate how wheelchair
users live active, independent lives, Gary Karp has written
Life On Wheels:
For the Active Wheelchair User. It is the essential road map for
wheelchair users who are in control of their lives. Karp, an ergonomics
consultant and long-time chair user, describes:
- How to get the most out of the rehabilitation process
- Medical concerns common to many chair users such as pain, pressure sores,
and spasticity
- Health topics such as keeping fit, diet, and personal care assistance
- What disability feels like on the inside and how people adapt and
interact with others
- Selecting the right wheelchair
- Making a home environment more accessible and convenient
- Intimacy, sexuality, and parenting
- Spinal cord research
- Disability legislation and activism
- Getting out there--travel, adaptive technology, employment, education,
sports, and recreational activities
The experience of a disability can be a mystery for those new to it. In
truth, it is often less limiting than it appears. This book is the only one
on the market that orients a chair user to the core issues of life on wheels
and guides each individual in the right direction for further research. It
offers practical ways for chair users to manage their own health and discover
adaptive approaches to optimize the quality of their lives.
About the Author:
When he was 18, Gary Karp fell out of a tree, breaking his spine in mid-back
and becoming paraplegic. He went on to college, graduated, and worked in the
computer graphics field. In 1992, Gary developed a repetitive strain injury.
After recovering, he began his own ergonomics consulting business, Onsight.
Karp's first book, Choosing a Wheelchair, a companion to Life on Wheels, was
published in the summer of 1998.
Life On Wheels:
For the Active Wheelchair User
by Gary Karp
$24.95, 573 pages, paperback
ISBN: 1-56592-253-0
PUBLICATION DATE: July 1999
About Patient-Centered Guides:
Patient empowerment is the central theme at the core of the Patient-Centered
Guides series. We believe that people are empowered when they have the
knowledge and skills to partner with their doctor or healthcare provider to
get the best medical care possible.
We publish books that contain clear, concise, easy to understand information
about the medical, practical and emotional aspects of health issues. All of
our authors are experts in specific conditions and diseases and are the
driving forces behind building strong and networked communities of patients,
families and caregivers.
In addition to our books, we publish information on the web
(www.patientcenters.com).
Our site is an extension of our mission to empower individuals to become
informed health-conscious consumers.
Patient-Centered Guides is a division of O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
O'Reilly is recognized worldwide for its technical books that fill a void and
provide value to people who are experiencing information pain. O'Reilly
publishes books that make a difference in people's lives.
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