Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book [Spiral-bound]

Jean Dobbs (Editor), Barry Corbet (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

Now in its 3rd edition, Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book is as vibrant as ever with 586 pages of profiles, articles and resources on every topic of interest to wheelchair users. Subjects include health, coping, relationships, sexuality, parenthood, computers, sports, recreation, travel, personal assistance services, legal rights, financial strategies, employment, media images and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Awesomely complete ... should be kept within reach of all wheelchair users and their companions." -- Los Angeles Times

"Mindbendingly, breathtakingly comprehensive! I only wish there had been a resource like this when I was newly disabled." -- John Callahan, syndicated cartoonist and quadriplegic

From the Author

Imagine a big, beautiful, comprehensive resource book for people with disabilities: That's what we did back in 1988 for the first edition of Spinal Network. It was published on a shoestring and a prayer--an exercise in faith, hope and deficit financing.

The second edition was launched on more tangible grounds, but we still didn't know the true depth of the need for resources, role models and community connection.

In this, our third edition, we think we've found our voice. It's the voice of disability past, present and future, not anything we invented. Informed by hundreds of accomplished wheelers sharing their thousands of years of disability experience, Spinal Network is your key to quality of life.

You'll find stories about health and sexuality; about travel, sports and recreation; about selecting gear and dealing with bureaucracies. You'll find medical and rehab topics strongly covered, as well as the attitudes and the street smarts for taking control of your life.

You'll find inside information from people who know.

A constant theme in this book is that the best coaches for living with a disability are those who have already done it. That's why we've included so many engaging people with so many different answers to so many different questions.

The line between a tough break and a satisfying life may be as simple as knowing the full range of options. Disability does force hard choices on us, but there's no reason we have to make them in ignorance.

We hope this book makes your choices easier. We know you'll find a wealth of information.

And, who knows, somewhere in these pages you might find yourself. You might find that Spinal Network is your ticket not only to living well with a disability, but to enjoying the ride. --Barry Corbet

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 586 pages
• Publisher: Nine Lives Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971522308
• ISBN-13: 978-0971522305
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,409,499 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Best Disability Read" for consumers & professionals, June 11, 2002

By 

Al DeGraff, Author and Disability Survivor (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book (Spiral-bound)

For consumers who have succeeded for decades in living with their disability, "Spinal Network" has earned its reputation as a survival reference; for those who are coping with disability as a new lifestyle, SN provides coping strategies as well as time-proven resources for becoming independent and living each day to the max; for professionals and the curious community, SN provides the most grounded and accurate portrait of active people who have declared their disability an asset. Having survived my disability for 35 years, I can say with confidence -- for everyone -- that SN is the "Best Disability Read" available anywhere! Buy it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book!, May 7, 2007

By 

David Lambert (Rochester, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book (Spiral-bound)

I can't understand why this book is no longer in print. I bought it soon after I suffered a severe spinal cord injury. This book describes so many ways that someone with a SCI can remain active, from sailboating to downhill skiing, handcycling, flying a glider, traveling, mountain climbing, sex, etc, etc, etc... It also gives the current state of medical research in stem cell therapy. It gives phone numbers and web site addresses to the experts where you can get more information and the book itself is FULL of practical information (for example, what to do if you need to urinate during a long airplane flight). I've mentored other new SCI patients and loaned out my copy of this book and found this to be an indispensible resource. It answers basic questions that aren't covered by rehab therapists.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for family and friends., September 13, 2010

By 

JM - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book (Spiral-bound)

I recently started dating a gentleman with SCI. I purchased this book to become better informed and to understand what he goes through on a regular basis. I found this book to be educational, informative, and enlightening. How do you know what you don't know? It certainly helped open my eyes. I recommend this book to everyone.