Praise for Atlantis
I strongly disagree with a reader’s comment —  “Sounds like my trip to Mexico, no accessibility anywhere” — on the NM website regarding my article [“Discovering the (Mostly) Accessible Atlantis Resort,” June 2016]: On the contrary, Atlantis was incredibly accessible. The management and staff not only listened to my concerns but actually changed policies and incorporated suggestions to improve access. They exceeded standard ADA accommodations by assisting with transfers, having beach and water wheelchairs, accommodating my needs at the snorkeling and dolphin swim adventures, and propelling my raft through slow areas of their uber-accessible water ride, The Current. Once on this ride, guests never have to leave the water and are propelled in an endless loop of whitewater fun or up a slide tower via water conveyors where they can access two four-story waterslides. I hadn’t been on a water slide since my injury. Their can-do attitude provided access above and beyond any theme park or resort in the United States.
Ellen Stohl
Northridge, California

Stem Cell Hopes
I would just say tread carefully. People can get better on their own [“Stem Cell Trials Show Improved Hand Function, Sensation and Bladder Awareness,” June 2016]. I was a quadriplegic from the nose down but within a month or two, I was a T5 paraplegic. There is no definitive way to assign causality to the treatments. It will take a while before they will know anything. I would hate to raise people’s hopes too high too soon.
Carole Herbster
via newmobility.com

China Trials
I have long been a fan of the China study efforts [“China Trials Result in Walking,” June 2016]. I do think the [trial] design suffers significantly for not having one control group that only gets intensive exercise treatment, yet there probably are some studies of that at this point with chronic SCIs, so perhaps comparing to those is adequate. … Having 55 percent cease use of catheters is astounding — cannot be argued with on any level! But why did none of the Hong Kong participants enjoy similar bowel and bladder improvement? It is puzzling.
Patricia Woodruff
via newmobility.com

Partner-Caregivers: A Bad Idea
From many friends I have who rely on attendants, I have learned this:
Never rely on a significant other for disability-related needs [“Breakup Wakeup” June 2016]. Like it or not, no matter how trusting and close you are with your partner, it’s just a bad idea for the relationship. Period.
Linda Ilene Dolphin
via newmobility.com

Mobility Service Woes
Even so much as a cushion cover can take over a month to get … [and] private paying doesn’t have any effect on the vendors. Being a double above-knee amputee, my power chair is my means of getting around. Let one of these vendors or insurance reps have to depend on a chair and see how their attitude changes. Until you’ve been in our chair, you really don’t get it.
Brian Dalessandro
via newmobility.com

Disability ‘Snuff’ Films
[EDITOR: The following exchange on newmobility.com was spurred by Bob Vogel’s blog, “The Inaccurate and Dangerous Message of Me Before You”:]

Responsible suicide prevention needs to be an integral part of the larger society. Paralysis, poverty, loneliness, emotional abandonment by others are integral issues of a larger society. Thus we need to be proactive and struggle against the taking of human life!
Elisabeth Alice Ellebogen

However, it is just as important that an individual have control of their own destiny, regardless of the outcome.
Noel Chrzanowski

[Yes], it is important that people have control of their destiny. The problem with movies like this is that they tell society that people with disabilities can’t have control or anything else in their lives to make them worthwhile, so they should spare their loved ones and kill themselves, and that’s a lie. Tim Bowers didn’t even get a chance to see if he could have had a great life; one can’t make an informed choice if you have no idea about what you’re deciding. Most likely what he decided was that he didn’t want to be pathetic and a burden, because that’s what movies show us to be, over and over. But that’s not reality, especially if we have equal rights! We can only control our own destiny if we chose to live … There is no destiny if you’re dead, you’re just dead!
Michelle Steger
via newmobility.com