The future of disability in America will depend on how well the U.S. prepares for and manages the demographic, fiscal, and technological developments that will unfold during the next two to three decades. Building upon two prior studies from the Institute of Medicine (the 1991 Institute of Medicine's report Disability in America and the 1997 report Enabling America), The Future of Disability in America examines both progress and concerns about continuing barriers that limit the independence, productivity, and participation in community life of people with disabilities. This book offers a comprehensive look at a wide range of issues, including the prevalence of disability across the lifespan; disability trends the role of assistive technology; barriers posed by health care and other facilities with inaccessible buildings, equipment, and information formats; the needs of young people moving from pediatric to adult health care and of adults experiencing premature aging and secondary health problems; selected issues in health care financing (e.g., risk adjusting payments to health plans, coverage of assistive technology); and the organizing and financing of disability-related research. The Future of Disability in America is an assessment of both principles and scientific evidence for disability policies and services. This book's recommendations propose steps to eliminate barriers and strengthen the evidence base for future public and private actions to reduce the impact of disability on individuals, families, and society.

SCI needs management by a team comprising of doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, vocational counsellor, psychologist, assistive technologist, orthotist and social worker. Since the available textbooks did not address the requirements of all disciplines, the need for the proposed textbook was reinforced.

This comprehensive and practical reference is the perfect resource for the medical specialist treating persons with spinal cord injuries. The book provides detail about all aspects of spinal cord injury and disease. The initial seven chapters present the history, anatomy, imaging, epidemiology, and general acute management of spinal cord injury. The next eleven chapters deal with medical aspects of spinal cord damage, such as pulmonary management and the neurogenic bladder. Chapters on rehabilitation are followed by nine chapters dealing with diseases that cause non-traumatic spinal cord injury. A comprehensive imaging chapter is included with 30 figures which provide the reader with an excellent resource to understand the complex issues of imaging the spine and spinal cord.

This indispenable guide offers a complete picture of the road to recovery, and the specifics to move ahead with your life. When possible it encourages readers to resume their favorite hobbies, participate in athletic activities and return to the workplace. For the first time, leading medical specialists at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic offer their expert advice on everything from emotional adjustments, to skin care, to home and car modifications, to quality-of-life improvements. Easy-to-read, illustrated, and well organized, Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with A Spinal Cord Inury provides the "how-to" regarding the day-to-day challenges faced by anyone who has a spinal cord injury.

"Every year between 250 000 and 500 000 people suffer a spinal cord injury, with road traffic crashes, falls and violence as the three leading causes. People with spinal cord injury are two to five times more likely to die prematurely. They also have lower rates of school enrollment and economic participation than people without such injuries. Spinal cord injury has costly consequences for the individual and society, but it is preventable, survivable and need not preclude good health and social inclusion. Ensuring an adequate medical and rehabilitation response, followed by supportive services and accessible environments, can help minimize the disruption to people with spinal cord injury and their families. The aims of International perspectives on spinal cord injury are to: ---assemble and summarize information on spinal cord injury, in particular the epidemiology, services, interventions and policies that are relevant, together with the lived experience of people with spinal cord injury; ---make recommendations for actions based on this evidence that are consistent with the aspirations for people with disabilities as expressed in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Paying special attention to the feelings, attitudes, and needs of people with disabilities--three chapters are written by authors who have a disability--Aging with a Disability gives students and clinicians a reliable and compassionate handbook for the treatment of this growing population.