It all started with ergonomics. At least that’s how Gary Karp remembers his debut on the disability writing scene. “It was my writing on-line about ergonomics that attracted Linda Lamb, the original editor of Life on Wheels to me,” recalls Karp. “She dropped me an e-mail saying that she liked the way I wrote, and wanted to meet. A year later I had a contract for Life on Wheels.”

That was in 1999. Today Karp is ramping up for the release of the second edition of this popular disability resource for wheelchair users. And although there have been advances in technology, research, and accessibility since the release of the first edition, the need for a comprehensive volume of disability resources, tips, and first-hand advice remains constant.

Karp fills that need with this excellent second edition, appropriately subtitled “The A to Z Guide to Living Fully with Mobility Issues.” With as much information as author Karp has covered in this disability resource, it could also have been subtitled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Living with a Wheelchair, But Didn’t Know Who to Ask.”

Wheelchair-Related Assistive Technology
Having hit the bookstores in summer 2008, the second edition of Life on Wheels contains updated information on everything from rehabilitation and seating options to home adaptations, research, and even travel. But it’s not just a rehash of Volume One; in fact Karp did a meticulous edit of the first edition to make sure everything was updated, including all aspects of wheelchair-related assistive technology.

For example, the chapter on wheelchair selection includes information about things that didn’t exist or were in their infancy nine years ago; from power assist and the iBot, to frog legs caster forks, Natural Fit handrims, and alternative propulsion ideas like the Wigit.

Wheelchair Sex, Anyone?
But Life on Wheels isn’t just about equipment. Karp doesn’t overlook the human aspects of disability either, as there’s a chapter about dealing with disability on an emotional level and, of course, a chapter on sex and intimacy.

In fact, it’s hard to interview Karp without talking about sex, as he’s a regular speaker about sex and disability as well as the author of Disability and the Art of Kissing. And although he admits he often tires of questions about his favorite chapter or subject, it’s readily apparent that sex comes somewhere near the top of the list.

“The chapter on sexuality and intimacy probably meant the most to me,” admits Karp. “It is such an essential feature of being human, and I know that many people with disabilities have not had access to information—or supportive attitudes—that help them find their way to an integrated sense of their sensual selves in the context of their disability.”

Disability Resource Reflects Author’s Experience
Karp also freely admits he has changed since the first edition, as he so profoundly explains in the preface, “I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the disability experience through a wide ranging involvement in the broader disability community.” And that change is very evident in his writing.

In short, Life on Wheels is a must-read for all wheelchair users, as well as their friends and family.
Life on Wheels is available at www.lifeonwheels.org; while you’re there, sign up for Gary Karp’s great e-mail newsletter.

Life on Wheels is available at www.lifeonwheels.org; with a special pre-release offer until the end of August. And while you’re there, sign up for Gary Karp’s great e-mail newsletter.

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Looking for more book resources for disabilities?  If so, see Book Review: Living in the State of Stuck: How Assistive Technology Impacts the Lives of People With Disabilities.

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