Webinar Details
This series of four webinars is designed to help women with mobility impairments achieve and maintain their highest level of pelvic health. As part of the Pelvic Health Initiative, it combines state-of-the-art information from the scientific literature, clinical practice, and resources provided by women with mobility impairments who live with these issues every day.
We would like to thank the medical and consumer advisors for the Pelvic Health Initiative for their valuable assistance in helping us organize this webinar series.
Disclosures: All presenters in this series report that they have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.
Session #1: "Pelvic HEALTH for WOMEN with Mobility Impairments"
Margaret Nosek, Ph.D., director of the Center For Research on Women with Disabilities at Baylor College of Medicine, and Sophie Fletcher, M.D., urologist and specialist in women's pelvic health practicing with Sutter Pacific Health Foundation in Santa Rosa California, present an overview of the meaning and importance of pelvic health for women with mobility impairments. The session was recorded April 6, 2016.
Downloadable PDF of Dr. Nosek's PowerPoint presentation
Downloadable PDF of Dr. Fletcher's PowerPoint presentation
Background Materials:
Session #2: "Pelvic Health Transitions for Girls with Mobility Impairments"
Ellen Fremion, M.D., discusses bowel, bladder, and reproductive issues of concern to girls with mobility impairments. Dr. Fremion is an assistant professor of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. She is a clinician in the Baylor Transition Medicine Clinic, a medical home for adults with physical and intellectual disabilities due to chronic conditions from childhood, as well as the medical director for the Texas Children’s Hospital Spina Bifida Transition Readiness Clinic, a clinic for teens with SB focusing on chronic condition care, self-management, and transition planning from pediatric to adult care. Her clinical and academic interests are in improving complex condition management, health care access, self-management, and community participation opportunities for adolescents and young adults with disabilities. The session was recorded April 20, 2016.
- Archived video of the session.
- Transcript of the session.
- Downloadable PDF of Dr. Fremion's PowerPoint presentation.
Background Materials:
- Read more about Adult Developmental Medicine.
- Read more about the foundations of transition medicine.
See our Transitions page for info on other life transitions such as pregnancy, labor and delivery, parenting, and menopause.
Session #3: "Bladder and Bowel Issues That Affect Sexuality"
Leanne Beers, Ph.D.(c), leads a panel of women with mobility impairments and rehabilitation specialists in a discussion of these neglected but intersecting topics. Leanne is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Human Services and Family Strategies and has a Masters in Public Relations and Health Communications. She has been working with individuals with disabilities for over 20 years, specializing in human relations, health communications, body image, intimacy, and sexuality among individuals with disabilities. A resident of Missoula, Montana, Leanne has just completed her second term as president of Summit Independent Living Center Board and serves on various Community Advisory Boards regarding disability research. Leanne prides herself as a professional and advocate for topics such as assertiveness, self-esteem, safety awareness for women, non-violent communication, disability, sexuality, and healthy relationships. Most of all, Leanne enjoys being a mom to her two wonderful kids.
Other panelists include Meena Outlaw, a woman with SCI who is an advisor to CROWD on several research projects, and author of many children's books about disability. Meena is also very much involved in spinal cord injury peer support organizations. The third panelist is Liza Criswell, who is an occupational therapist and assistive technology professional at TIRR Memorial Hermann, specializing in sexuality after spinal cord injury and other disabilities. The session was recorded May 4 2016.
Archived video of the session.
Downloadable PDF of the Presentation.
Background Materials:
Session #4: "Access to Quality Pelvic Health Care for Women with Mobility Impairments"
Earlene Sesker, training coordinator for the U.S. Access Board, presents the rulemaking process mandated by the Affordable Care Act of 2010 requiring architectural and program access to all health care facilities, specifically related to diagnostic medical equipment including exam tables, weight scales, and mammography. Wendy Wilkinson, J.D., ADA specialist, and woman with SCI, prepared a presentation on how women with disabilities can advocate for their rights and quality care in healthcare settings. The presentation was delivered by Dr. Margaret Nosek, followed by discussion and questions from the audience. The session was recorded May 18, 2016.
Archived video of the session.
Downloadable PDF of Ms. Wilkinson's and Dr. Nosek's presentation.