Having a Daughter With a Disability: Is it Different For Girls?

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Bibliographic Note:

You can obtain many of the documents listed below through your local public library. Whenever possible, we have included the publisher's address or some other source in case the publication is not available in your area. The organizations listed are only a few of the many that provide various services and information programs about girls and women with disabilities for families and professionals. Additional support is also available from state and local parent groups, as well as from state and local affiliates of many major disability organizations. Please note that these addresses are subject to change without prior notice. If you experience difficulty in locating these documents or organizations, or if you would like additional assistance, please contact NICHCY.

If you know of a group which is providing information about girls and women with disabilities, or developing materials and programs in your area, please send this information to NICHCY for our resource collection. We will appreciate this information and will share it with other families and professionals who request it.

References

Baker, B.L., Brightman, A.J., & Hinshaw, S.P. ( 1980). Toward independent living. Champaign, IL: Research Press.

Bowe, F. (1983). Disabled women in America. Washington, DC: President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

Brozan, N. (November 28,1984). Disabled women meet role models. The New York Times, p. Cl, Cl I.

Burchard, L.N., Hasazi, J.E., Gordon, L.R., Rosen, J., & Dietzel, L. (1986), Care providers competence and attitude, integrating activities, and the lifestyle and personal satisfaction of adults with retarded development. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association on Mental Retardation, Denver, CO.

Buscaglia,L.F. (1983). The disabled and their parents. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Clabby, J.F., & Elias, M.J. ( 1986). Teach your child decision making. Garden City, NJ: Doubleday.

Condry, J., & Condry, S. (1978). Sex differences: A study of the eye of the beholder. Child Development, 47, 812-819.

Corbett, K., & Froschl, M., with Bregante, J.L., & Levy, L. (1 983). Access to the future: Serving disabled young women. In S. Davidson (Ed.), The second mile: Contemporary approaches in counseling young women. Tucson, AZ: New Directions for Young Women, Inc.

Fine, M., & Asch, A. (Eds.). (1988). Women with disabilities: Essays in psychology, culture, and politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Gardner, J.F., Chapman, M.S., Donaldson. G., & Jacobson, S.G. (1988). Toward supported employment: A process guide for planned change. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Halpern, A.S. (1990). A methodological review of follow-up and follow-along studies tracking school leavers from special education. Career Development for Exceptional individuals, 13(1), 13-27.

Harris, L. and Associates. (1986, March). The survey of disabled Americans: Bringing disabled Americans into the mainstream. NY: International Center for the Disabled (ICD).

Harris, L. and Associates. (1987, March). The ICD Survey II:: Employing disabled Americans. New York: international Center for the Disabled (ICD).

Harrison, J., & Rousso, H. (1989). Positive images: Portraits of women with disabilities. New York: Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls.

Hasazi, S.B., Johnson, R.E., Hasazi, J.E., Gordon, L.R., & Hull, M. (1989). Employment of youth with and without handicaps following high school: Outcomes and correlates. The Journal of Special Education. 23(3), 243-255.

Kolata, G. (August 22, 1990). Studies dispute view of dyslexia, finding girls as afflicted as boys. The New York Times, p. Al, B6.

Kratovil, J., & Bailey, S.M. (1986). Sex equity and disabled students. Theory into Practice (Autumn), 25(4), 250-256.

Lang, M.A. (1982). Creating inclusive, nonstereotyping environments: The child with a disability. Unpublished manuscript.

Litvak, S., Zukas, H., & Heumann, J.E. (1987, April). Attending to America: Personal assistance for independent living. Report of the National Survey of Attendant Care Programs in the United States. Berkeley, CA: World institute on Disability.

Mitchell, J.S. (1982). Taking on the world: Empowering strategies for parents of children with disabilities. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich .

O'Toole, M.C. (1979). Disabled women: The case of the missing role model. Independent (2).

President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. (1986). Out of the job market: A national crisis. Washington, DC: Author,

Rousso, H. (1981). Disabled people are sexual, too. Exceptional Parent, 11(6).

Rousso, H. (1988). Disabled, female, and proud! Boston: Exceptional Parent Press.

Shapiro, L. (May 28, 1990) Guns and dolls. Newsweek, 56-65.

U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1989). Labor force status and other characteristics of persons with a work disability: 1981 to 1988, Current Population Reports, Series P-23, No.160. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Wagner, M., & Shaver, D.M. (1989). The transitional experiences of youth with disabilities: A report from the National Longitudinal Transitional Study. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.

Weiner, F. (1986). No apologies. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Bibliography

An increasing number of women with disabilities are becoming more vocal within both the disability rights and women's movements. This activism is reflected in many of the listings provided in this bibliography, as well as in the references cited throughout this NEWS DIGEST.

The growth in resources for, by, and about women with disabilities is heartening for parents and professionals, but, most of all, for women and girls who see themselves reflected in literature and research.

The following resources are selective. They reflect the experiences and perspectives of women and girls with disabilities. Included are books for children, books for older readers, educational materials for parents and professional, videos and films, and organizations that address many of the issues discussed in this NEWS DIGEST. The cited references are also recommended reading to add to your knowledge about women and disability.

Greenfield, Eloise, illustrated by George Ford. (1980). Darlene. New York: Methuen.

In this book a young girl named Darlene, who uses a wheelchair, is feeling homesick while spending a morning with her uncle and cousin. Darlene resists her cousin's attempts to play with her, but finally becomes absorbed in games and in her uncle's guitar playing. In typical fashion, when Darlene's mother arrives, Darlene doesn't want to go home. Darlene is outstanding because the child's disability is secondary to the plot; it shows a positive view of a Black family, and has a male caregiver as a main character. (Appropriate for grade pre-K to 2.)

Head, Barry & Seguin, Jim, designed by Frank Dastolfo, photographed by Walter Seng. (1975). Who am I? Northbrook, IL: Hubbard.

This book shows a girl who is hearing impaired playing, loving her family, and learning. The words "Who am l?" are the only ones in the book, and they appear periodically. The full color photo illustrations are nonsexist, multiracial, and inclusive. The book is part of the "l Am, l Can, l Will" set of materials created by Mr. Rogers but is available separately. (Appropriate for grades Pre-K to 4.)

Henriod, Lorraine, illustrated by Christa Chevalier. (1982). Grandma's wheelchair. Chicago: Albert Whitman and Co.

A book about the fond relationship between grandma and her four-year-old grandson, Thomas. Grandma uses a wheelchair, and Thomas spends time riding in her lap while they do things together. Grandma is depicted as a capable homemaker, taking an active role in the running of her house. Information regarding wheelchair use is integral to the story. (Appropriate for grades Pre-K to 1.)

Sargent, Susan Wirt & Donna Aaron, illustrated by Allan Eitzen. (1983). My favorite place. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

This story is full of the multisensory experiences of a child's trip to the ocean. It is not until the end that the reader finds out that the girl in the story is blind. My Favorite Place helps young children understand the use of the senses other than vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The child is shown actively swimming in the ocean and running from the waves. (Appropriate for grades Pre-K to 1.)

Garrigue, Sheila. (1978). Between friends. New York: Bradbury Press.

Sixth-grader Jill moves into her new neighborhood in August when most of the neighborhood children are still away. Only Dede is at home, but Dede is "different." She has Down Syndrome. Dede has a dog, and Jill is taking care of a neighbor's dog. The two girls walk the dogs together, and their friendship blossoms until the rest of the neighborhood girls return from vacation. Then Jill has to make some important decisions about how to maintain her friendship with Dede as well as build friendships with the other children. Jill learns that loyalty and caring are what make a friendship grow. (Appropriate for grades 3-6.)

Greenfield, Eloise & Revis, Alesia, illustrated by George Ford, photographs by Sandra Turner Bond. (1981). Alesia. New York: Philomel Books/Putnam.

This is a story of a young Black woman who becomes mobility impaired as a result of an accident. She is portrayed as a whole person with varied interests and feelings. The pictures and photographs reflect many of Alesia's friends and activities, and her family is supportive and caring. It is rare to find truly positive literature about an individual who is disabled and even more rare to find such works about a person of color who is disabled. Alesia is such a rare find. (Appropriate for grades 5 and up.)

Kent, Deborah. (1978). Belonging. New York: Dial Press. (Available in braille and as a talking book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20542. Telephone: (202) 707-5100.)

In this story, a girl who is blind is the first and only student with a disability in a suburban high school. This book has been a favorite with many adolescents and adults with and without disabilities, for it recalls vividly the difficulties encountered by trying to establish a genuine sense of belonging. (Appropriate for grades 6 and up.)

Sachs, Ann. (1981). Just like always. New York: Antheneum.

Janie and Courtney have similar disabilities (scoliosis) and must cope with a prolonged hospital stay. The two girls are very different. Janie is outspoken, mischievous, always questioning the arbitrary hospital rules and exploring limits. Courtney, a shy, quiet girl, "has always been a model patient" and lives in a fantasy world. It is through the very different personalities of the two girls that the reader subtly realizes that individuals with the same disabilities are just that, individuals. The story takes place in the hospital and does dwell more on hospital routines, personalities, and insensitivities than on disability. (Appropriate for grades 4-7.)

Walker, Lou Ann, photographs by Michael Abramson. (1985). Amy: The story of a deaf child. New York: E.P. Dutton.

Amy Rowley, who is deaf, loves to climb trees, swim, read, and watch movies, She is learning to skateboard and is the fastest runner of the girls in her class. This photo essay, told in Amy's own words, shows an active child and provides the reader with much information about how people who are hearing impaired do many things, e.g.. talk on the telephone via a TDD or know that the doorbell is ringing through a series of flashing lights. (Appropriate for grades 3-6.)

Educational Equity Concepts. Mainstreaming for equity: Activity and resource kits. New York: Author. (Available From Educational Equity Concepts, inc., 114 East 32 Street, New York, NY 10016.)

An innovative curriculum for all children, disabled and nondisabled, in kindergarten through sixth grade. The curriculum comes in self-contained kits that hold everything needed to teach the activities. Included are hands-on materials (books, posters, charts, photos, wooden figures, lotto games, braille slates and styli), as well as a step-by-step curriculum guide that contains ideas for activities and projects that present a unique approach to the language arts and social studies curriculum. All the resources are multicultural, free of gender stereotypes, and present a positive view of children and adults with disabilities. The family and school kit, for grades K-2 focuses on familiar themes through which children learn about hearing impairment and mobility impairment. The communication kit, for grades 3-6 expands concepts of communication using braille in a unit on visual impairment and sign language in a unit on hearing impairment.

Educational Equity Concepts. Mainstreaming for equity posters. New York: Author.

A set of three unique posters depicted disabled and nondisabled children and adults interacting in a variety of situations: at home, in school, and in the community. The multicultural posters, Families, School, and Communication, are black and white with bright Ted borders. The titles are in bold print, American Sign Language, and braille. The size is 17" x 22". Included in kits, but available separately.

Froschl, Merle; Colon, Linda; Rubin, Ellen; & Sprung, Barbara. (1984). Including all of us: An early childhood curriculum about disability. New York: Educational Equity Concepts, inc.

Learning about disabilities enriches and extends the traditional early childhood curriculum in significant ways. It offers enormous benefits to children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. It remarkably increases parent/child and home/school communication. This book tells why and how. The activities in this guide are grouped into three curriculum areas: Same/Different, incorporating hearing impairment; Body Pans, incorporating visual impairment; and Transportation, incorporating mobility impairment.

National Clearinghouse for Women and Girls with Disabilities. (1990). Bridging the gap: A national directory of services for women and girls with disabilities. New York: Author.

The Resource Directory includes lists of organizations that primarily serve women with disabilities. In the last several pages, the organizations are classified by category and listed by city and state.

Organization for Equal Education for the Sexes. Women with disabilities posters. Brooklyn, NY: Author,

Eleven posters, featuring women with disabilities, can be ordered separately or as a set. A brief biography is included with each poster. Included are: Alicia Alonso, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Blackwell, Linda Bove, Annie Jump Cannon, Fannie Lou Hamer, Helen Keller, Billie Nave Masters, Wilma Rudolph, Harriet Tubman, and Bree Walker.

Phillips, Elizabeth. Equality intropacket: Women and girls with disabilities. Brooklyn, NY: Organization for Equal Education of the Sexes.

An outstanding and comprehensive packet of materials, most appropriate for educators interested in changing attitudes and curricula around issues of disability and gender. Complete with resource list and bibliographies for children, adolescents, and adults.

Browne, S.E., Connors, D., & Stem, N. (Eds.). (1985). With the power of each breath. San Francisco: Cleis Press.

Anthology written for, by, and about women with disabilities. All of the 54 women who contributed are disabled. The editors state that, 'These pages are a journey into our lives as we survive in an inaccessible society, express our anger, grow up in our families, live in our bodies, find our own identity, parent our children, and find our friends and each other."

Campling, J. (1981). Images of ourselves: Women with disabilities talking. Boston: Routledge & Bogan Paul.

Presents rich and compelling stories using the words of women with disabilities. The women vary in age, disability, politics, and lifestyle. (Available on cassette from Recording for the Blind. A companion film is also available.)

Carrillo, A.C., Corbett, K., & Lewis, V. (1982). No more stares. Berkeley, CA: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, inc.

Through photos and brief personal accounts, more than 100 girls and women with disabilities are depicted at home, school, sports, personal, and family activities. A highly successful attempt to shatter stereotypes about women with disabilities. Essential reading for teenagers, their parents, and the professionals who work with them. Contains a 22-page annotated resource list. (Also available on cassette.)

Deegan, M.J., & Brooks, N. (Eds.). (1984) Women and disability: The double handicap. New Brunswick: Transaction Books.

A set of essays reviewing the economic. social, and psychological conditions of women with disabilities. (Updated from the Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, July 1981, special issue on women with disabilities.)

Pine, M., & Asch, A. (Eds.). (1988). Women with disabilities: Essays in psychology, culture, and politics. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

This 348-page book takes a comprehensive look at the issues that face women with disabilities in our society today. It amply illustrates the double bind that women with disabilities confront in trying to succeed as individuals, professionals, lovers, and family members in a society that devalues and discriminates against them.

Lonsdale, S. (1990). Women and disability: The experience of physical disability among women. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Detailed interviews with disabled women of all ages describe the experience of physical disability. The impact of gender upon being or becoming disabled is discussed, as well as self-image, sexuality, relationships, marriage and childbearing.

Mitchell, J.S. (1980). See me more clearly: Career and life planning for teens with disabilities. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

This guide is useful when thinking about and planning for a career. It includes tips for adolescents with disabilities on dealing with teachers and counselors who may be unsympathetic or uninformed about disability issues.

Rousso, H. (with O'Malley, S.G., and Severance, M.). (1988). Disabled, female and proud! Stories of ten women with disabilities. Boston, MA: Exceptional Parent Press. (Available from the Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls, YWCA/NYC, 610 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022.)

The ten women profiled in this book prove that making choices about school, work, family, and love is what being disabled, female, and proud is all about.

Saxton, M., & Howe, F. (Eds.). (1987). With wings: An anthology of literature by and about women and/or girls with disabilities. New York: The Feminist Press.

Through personal accounts, fiction, and poetry, women describe the physical and emotional experience of disability. The selections dispel the myths and stereotypes and celebrate the strengths and talents of women and girls with disabilities.

Traustadottir, R. (1990). Women with disabilities: issues, resources, connections. Syracuse, NY: Human Policy Press. (Available from Human Policy Press, 200 Huntington Hall, 2nd floor, Syracuse, NY 13244-2340.)

Excellent and extensive annotated bibliography and listing of resources, teaching materials, services, support groups, organizations, and periodicals.

Women and Disability Awareness Project. (1989). Building community: A manual exploring issues of women and disability. New York: Educational Equity Concepts, inc.

Examines the connections between discrimination based on gender and on disability, Contains background information on disability rights and on women and girls with disabilities, workshop format, an annotated bibliography, and selected readings. This expanded edition also contains a supplement (including a workshop format and related materials) that focuses on meeting the special needs of teen women with disabilities.

Access Oregon. (1990). Don't go to your room... and other affirmations of empowerment for women with disabilities. (Available from Women's Educational Equity Act Publishing Center, Education Development Center, 55 Chapel Street, Suite 200, Newton, MA 02160. Customer Service: 1-800-225-3088.)

In this 60 minute video, women with disabilities talk openly about their lives in terms of jobs, sexuality, abuse, health, parenting, family, and ways of empowering oneself (Available in 1/2" VHS, for sale or rent, captioned, or non-captioned.)

California State/Sacramento Media Services. (1986). From disabled to abled. (Available from University Media Services, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.)

A 30-minute video in which three mentally retarded women from diverse backgrounds are interviewed about their lives. Each of the women discusses issues of family, relationships, education, and employment, as well as independence, love and societal attitudes toward them and their disability,

Chapmam L. Leblanc, P. & Stevens F. See what I say. (Distributed by the Fiimmakers Library, 133 E. 58 Street, New York, NY 10022.)

In this film, Holly Near, a feminist folk singer, breaks through the barrier that separates the hearing and the deaf community. She shares her concert with Susan Freudlich, recognized American Sign Language interpreter, who incorporates mime and dance in the translation of lyrics. Their synchronized performance heightens the impact of her vision of a better world. The powerful stories of four women and their experience with deafness are told in the film. For example, one woman relates that when she grew up: "Sign language was forbidden. Even if I waved 'hi' I would get hit." See What I Say ends with a sense of shared communication between hearing and deaf cultures. (16mm, color, 24 minutes)

Daley, E., & Kaplan, C. (1983). Tell them I'm a mermaid. Los Angeles: Taper Media Enterprises, Embassy Television, KTTV/Metromedia Television. (Distributed by Embassy Telecommunications, 1901 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067.)

First aired on network television in December 1983, this unique musical-theatre documentary tells of the lives of seven women with physical disabilities. Using an original music score and choreography, the women use their personal experiences to refute society's stigmas and stereotypes about disabilities. (16mm, color, 23 minutes, also available in 3/4" and 1/ 2" videocassette)

Harrison, J., & Rousso, H. (1989). Positive images: Portraits of women with disabilities. (Developed by the Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls, and Julie Harrison Productions. To order, contact the Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls, YWCA/NYC, 610 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022.)

Portrays three women with disabilities: Deidre Davis, attorney and civil rights activist who is paraplegic; Barbara Kannapell, psycholinguist and well-known scholar and lecturer on the culture of deafness; and Carol Ann Roberson, Director of the New York City Mayor's Office for the Handicapped and mother of two teen-age daughters, who is quadriplegic. The videotape presents the women in all aspects of their lives: their work, their politics, and their loves. (1/2" videotape, color, 60 minutes)

Like other people. (Available from Perennial Films, 477 Roger Williams, P.O. Box 855, Ravinia, Highland Park, IL 60035.)

A film about two individuals with cerebral palsy who meet, fall in love, and marry. Has some beautiful scenes that show that sometimes the inability to find a mate can relate to problems of personality and self-image, rather than to one's impairment.

National Film Board of Canada, producers. (1989). The impossible takes a little longer. (Order through: Indiana University, Audio-visual Center, Bloomington, IN 47405; Telephone: (812) 855-8087.)

Portrays the personal and professional lives of four women with disabilities: one is mobility impaired, one is deaf, one is in a wheelchair, and one is blind. In spite of encountering many obstacles (which they discuss), these women have developed successful work and home lives. As one puts it, "Imagination goes a long way in developing ways to do regular things. " (46 minutes; available for sale or rent, in film, VHS, or U-matic format.)

New York University institute for Rehabilitation Medicine. (1983). Choices: in sexuality with physical disability. (Distributed by Mercury productions, 17 W. 45 Street, New York, NY 10036.)

Addresses a topic that is not often dealt with in the field of disability and rehabilitation: sexuality. The individuals in the film, three men and one woman, discuss their concerns about finding partners, fear of being rejected, the need for basic information about specific disabilities, and the limits of their ability to perform sexually. (16mm, color. Part I 20 minutes; Part II, 40 minutes. Also available in 3/4" and 1/2" videocassette.)

Organizational Resources

Educational Equity Concepts, inc. 114 East 32 Street, New York, NY 10016. (Telephone: (212) 725-1803.)

Educational Equity Concepts, Inc. was founded in 1982 to foster equal educational opportunity. This nonprofit organization produces innovative programs and materials to help eliminate sex, race, and disability bias, and offers a broad range of training and consulting services.

National Clearinghouse on Women and Girls with Disabilities. Operated by Educational Equity Concepts, inc. 114 East 32 Street, New York, NY 10016. (Telephone: (212) 725-1803.)

The Clearinghouse is creating a computerized means of gathering information, providing resources and referrals, developing a communication network, and conducting public education regarding women and girls With disabilities. "Disabilities" is defined to include physical, sensory, language, cognitive, emotional, and health disabilities.

The Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls, YWCA/NYC, 610 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

This project, initiated through the efforts of Harilyn Rnnsso, provides adolescent girls with disabilities with opportunities to meet older disabled women leading interesting, satisfying lives. Women and girls With disabilities get together through conferences, workshops, worksites, for one-on-one encounters, and special events. They have open discussions on topics ranging from jobs to relationships to sex. The Project is now being replicated in other cities around the nation.

Disabilities Unlimited, 3 East 10 Street, New York, NY 10013. (Telephone: (212) 673-4284.)

Directed by Harilyn Russo, Disabilities Unlimited provides counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and consultation and training to organizations on issues of women and disability.