Like Other Women: Perspectives of Mothers with Physical Disabilities

This article is based on interviews with ten women, ranging in age from 19 to 45 and living in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Their disabilities are neurmuscular or musculoskeletal and include spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, post-polio and spina bifida. Their children range in age from 11 months to adulthood. The article focuses on specific issues and concerns regarding early childhood ranagement, and includes some discussion of pre-natal and cbstetrical care. Cann misconceptions concerning motherhood and disability are also discussed. men with disabilities also have special concerns as parents. Although their concerns are not addressed in this paper, they are not seen as any less important or deserving of attention. Work on this paper was made possible under Grant #10H53008032 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Community Health Services, Family Planning Program, 1980