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CROWD Home Page
Mission
Research Team
Current Research
Information Services
The purpose of the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities is to conduct research and promote, develop, and disseminate information to expand the life choices of women with disabilities so that they may fully participate in community life. The proportion of women with disabilities in the population of the United States is substantial and growing. According to the 1992 U.S. Census,there are more than 26 million women with disability-related work limitations, comprising 20% of the population of women as a whole.They face significantly higher rates of unemployment and poverty,and are confronted with more serious barriers to obtaining education,Social Security benefits, health care, and health insurance than men with disabilities and women in general. Since its establishment in 1992, the Center has conducted research and training activities on issues related to the health, independence, and community integration of women and men with physical disabilities, primarily with funding from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education.
The Center's staff include Margaret A. Nosek, Ph.D., director and principal investigator, three collaborating senior investigators,a full-time associate director, and six full-time plus three part-time support staff. Dr. Nosek, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine,is an internationally recognized authority on independent living for persons with disabilities and issues of concern to women with disabilities. She is actively involved in efforts to advance the state of research and services for persons with disabilities.In her 11-year tenure at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Nosek has produced 31 articles for publication in refereed academic journals, 12 chapters for books on rehabilitation-related topics,8 monographs on independent living research, and given invited presentations at 67 national and 22 international conferences.She is especially committed to research training and career advancement for persons with disabilities. Ten of the Center's staff have physical disabilities. Dr. Nosek, herself a person with a severe physical disability, has secured funding for and mentored three pre- and postdoctoral fellows with disabilities within the past two years. She is Principal Investigator on a research training grant from the NIH that will establish five postdoctoral fellowships per year for the next five years in Baylor's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
back to top of pageOne of the Center's most notable accomplishments is the establishment of a database on psychosocial behaviors of women with physical disabilities compared to able-bodied women. This database contains 900 responses to a comprehensive national survey and is providing the first empirical data on a population of women with physical disabilities, ages 18 through 85. Preliminary findings have already been introduced to undergraduate and graduate medical training at Baylor College of Medicine and continuing education courses for a broad range of medical practitioners. The Center has received and filled more than 1,000 requests for information on its research findings over the past year. Staff are expanding efforts to conduct trainings and disseminate materials targeting a variety of audiences,including medical professionals, allied health professionals,counselors, social workers, educators, policy analysts, and consumers. Contact us at our new offices near Greenway Plaza, 3440 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77046 phone: (713) 960-0505 M-F 9 - 5 Central Time or leave a message with Director, Margaret Nosek: mnosek@bcm.tmc.edu
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