New Mobility Newsletter – Feb. 5, 2025

Products

Award-Winning Designer Partners with Pottery Barn for Accessible Furniture Line

Pottery Barn has partnered with Michael Graves Design, a wheelchair user-led design firm, to create a collection of accessible furniture that doesn’t sacrifice beautiful design. The new collection features upholstered armchairs as well as items from Pottery Barn’s bestselling bedroom collections, including bed frames with integrated armrests and “pull-and-roll side grips,” dressers and nightstands with easy-to-use larger pulls, and more.

Review: TruCath Duo Dual-Balloon Catheter

While there isn’t a lot of variation between most indwelling catheters, the TruCath Duo offers much-needed innovation. A second balloon at the catheter’s tip is designed to improve the ability to drain the bladder and reduce inflammation caused by the catheter digging into and adhering to the bladder wall. Ian Ruder tests out the Duo and talks to other wheelchair users about their experiences. For more on bladder management, check out the first edition of our new Health & Wellness newsletter.

News

SmartDrive MX2+ Faces Second Safety Recall

For the second time in less than two years, the companies behind the SmartDrive MX2+ have recalled a critical component of the popular power-assist device due to safety concerns. The recall stems from problems with the SpeedControl Dial — including failure to stop and unintended activation of the drive unit. Read the story for more information about the recall and who is affected.

Disaster Relief

Support for Wheelchair Users Affected By Natural Disasters

United Spinal is accepting applications for Disaster Relief grants for individuals with spinal cord injury and related disabilities who have been impacted by 2024-2025 natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and floods. In addition, Airbnb.org is offering eligible wheelchair users who are displaced by the LA wildfires lodging in accessible properties in the region. Click the link for more information and how to apply.

People

Recording Studio Owner Eric Sills

For Eric Sills, going to work every day is like having a front row seat to a concert. This Ohio-based wheelchair user started his music production career with a just basement recording setup, which now has grown to a full studio that hosts local and national recording artists. See a day in Sills’ life as he records everything from improvised jazz sessions to audiobooks.

Perspectives

How Travel Helped Me Challenge My Internalized Ableism

Greg Moomjy has always loved visiting castles and old churches when traveling with his family, but he never really questioned why he was OK with the limited access that he often encountered as a wheelchair user. A recent trip to London with a disabled friend showed him that inaccessibility doesn’t have to be the norm, and that he has as much right to enjoy historic sites as anyone else.