First Ever Guide to the Care of Women with Disabilities

[Guest guest]

I thought some of you might find this interesting - Alice

Press release, Newswise, Jan 23, 2004

First Ever Guide to the Care of Women with Disabilities

WOMEN DISABILITY HEALTH CARE MEDICAL GUIDE

While the health care community has grown more sensitive to the

health needs of the disabled, very little information is available

to guide their competent care. Filling that void is a new resource

book for physicians, nurses and other care providers that addresses

the unique challenges faced by disabled women who seek routine

medical care.

Newswise - While the health care community has grown more sensitive

to the health needs of the disabled, very little information is

available to guide their competent care. Filling that void is a new

resource book for physicians, nurses and other care providers that

addresses the unique challenges faced by disabled women who seek

routine medical care.

Welner's Guide to the Care of Women with Disabilities, edited by

Welner, M.D., and Florence Haseltine, Ph.D., M.D., offers

practical advice on fundamental issues such as physical examination,

nutrition, exercise, sexuality, victimization, and access to care,

as well information on specific disabilities such as neurological

impairment, rheumatologic illness, blindness and deafness.

The book provides guidance on managing medical problems that warrant

special consideration in disabled women: pain, osteoporosis,

anesthesia, incontinence, infertility, depression and psychotropics,

substance abuse and hormonal management.

Welner, the book's chief editor, was a disabled physician who

suffered a debilitating stroke while in medical school. She regained

her independence after five years of arduous neurological

rehabilitation and dedicated her career to improving care for

disabled women. She died from accidental causes in 2001.

" Dr. Welner had a vision that persons with disabilities need

individualized care, " said Haseltine, who founded the Society for

Women's Health Research and now serves on its board of

directors. " After she became disabled, I knew her as

a determined advocate for women's health. This book incorporates her

spirit, as well as her ideas. "

Almost 30 million women in the United States are disabled, according

to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

in the U.S.Department of Education.

The guide is published by Lippincott & Wilkins. Individuals

who order the book through the Society for Women's Health Research

Web site - http://www.womens-health.org - will receive a 10 percent

discount.

The Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only not-for-

profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of women

through research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the

Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate

inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need

for more information about conditions affecting women

disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The

Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health;

encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the

prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the

inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women,

providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women's

health issues. Visit the Society's Web site at www.womens-health.org

for more information.