Women with disabilities often have difficulty accessing health care services, and the quality of the health care they do receive is often worse than the care received by women without disabilities and men with disabilities. The consequences of these disparities include increased prevalence of secondary complications, diminished quality of life, and even premature death. In this book, researchers from a range of disciplines, with expertise in a range of disabilities, investigate the causes and consequences of these health care disparities and offer plans for action to improve wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention among this broad yet consistently underserved population. Using an integrated care framework as a foundation, authors tackle the structural, environmental, and social barriers that prevent women with disabilities from accessing effective and culturally-competent care and services, and address related issues including psychosocial health, interpersonal violence, health care policy, health promotion, disease prevention programs, and telehealth, as well as reproductive and sexual health, and dental care.

It looks back at the progress, and setbacks, of women during the past century, as well as looking ahead to the challenges of the future. Former Secretary of Commerce juanita Kreps and her daughter Sarah, open the book with personal perspectives on growing up female in America. Sarah Evans provides a history of the women's movement, including their assimilation into the work force, the rise of feminism, the influence of the Civil Rights movement, and the fight for equal opportunity in the labour force. Shorter essays include Vicki Crawford amd Margarita Benitez discussing the experiences of African American and Hispanic women, and Sonia Jarvis examines the major judicial and legislative decisions that have shaped women's rights. As always, WREI concludes with a comprehensive statistical portrait of American women today.