Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease [Paperback]

Rosalind Joffe (Author), Joan Friedlander (Author), L.G. Mansfield (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease is a book for women who live with chronic illness, encouraging them to stay employed to preserve their independence and sense of self. Rich with information and inspiration, it is the voice of warmth, wisdom, understanding, and compassion.

Filled with tips, tricks and first-person accounts from women who have made similar choices in their own lives, this unique book is a resounding call for self-reliance and resilience. The book identifies the factors that making working particularly difficult for women with autoimmune disease, and then offers practical suggestions to address them.

The authors take a hard, yet inspirational look at what it takes be successful in a job, including developing strategies and tactics, evaluating communication skills, building a support team and considerations for self-employment.

Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease covers issues such as:

• The complex nature of autoimmune disease
• The correlation between disease, diagnosis, and career development
• How life-changing strategies and concrete tactics can allow you to discover the spirit within

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An essential resource and guide for women living with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis... The final chapter 'Developing Your Warrior Spirit: Hope and Resilience,' is a beautiful summation of the tone of the book. The authors include an excellent list of additional reading materials."--InFocus (Autoimmune Diseases Association)

"...clear, down to earth and extraordinarily helpful."--Diabetesmine.com

"Any woman with a chronic illness needs to read and can substantially benefit from Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease" -- Midwest Book Review

"MS expert and CrohnÇ Ùs disease sufferer present a book of inspiration and wisdom for women that live and work with chronic disease... discusses hope and resilience." --ForeWord Magazine

"The authors use first-person accounts to illustrate their advice on coping simultaneously with symptoms and thechallenges of the workplace; developing a financial plan; communicating withcoworkers, employers, and loved ones; building a support team; and balancingwork and family responsibilities. A little book with lots of useful advice;recommended."--Library Journal

"An essential resource and guide for women living with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis... The final chapter 'Developing Your Warrior Spirit: Hope and Resilience,' is a beautiful summation of the tone of the book. The authors include an excellent list of additional reading materials."--InFocus (Autoimmune Diseases Association)

"...clear, down to earth and extraordinarily helpful."--Diabetesmine.com

"For the chronically ill, the decision to continue working or not, can be anagonizing one. Optimistic, but realistic, Women, Work, and Autoimmune disease helps the reader carefully weigh the pros and cons ofworking so that they can make an informed and rational choice. Specificsteps are offered to help you make accommodations that may allow you to stay in the workforce longer than you thought possible."--Allison Shadday, author of MS and Your Feelings: Handling the Ups and Downs of Multiple Sclerosis

"Despite the relative slimness of Joffe and Friedlander's book, it is packed with useful information that can help women navigate the world of work...Writing about the unpredictability of AD, the stages of chronic illness and career development, they connect their experiences and those of other women in a way that I found reassuring and empowering. Whether you are happily employed, considering quitting your job, or drawing up plans to start your own business, Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease will prove a helpful guide for thinking through the options." --Donna Rafanello, Momentum Magazine Fall 2009 20100503)

About the Author

Building on her experience living with chronic illnesses, including MS and ulcerative colitis, Rosalind Joffe founded the executive career coaching practice, cicoach.com, dedicated to help others with chronic illness develop the competencies they need to succeed. She is a recognized national expert on chronic illness in the workplace. As a leading executive career coach, she has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, ABC Radio, as well as a variety of regional and national media outlets. Rosalind has published in dozens of disease organization and health journals. She is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader for organizations that include the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, BiogenIdec, State Street Global, New Directions, Association of Career Professionals, HealthTalk.com, New England Arthritis Foundation, and the Scleroderma Association.

Joan Friedlander founded Lifework Business Partners, a national coaching andtraining company, in 2000. Joan works with entrepreneurs in service businesses to develop strategies to move to the next phase of growth inbusiness without losing sight of their personal needs. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1992, and with the exception of several short-term disability leaves, has successfully managed her career. In addition tocoaching, Joan is a veteran facilitator of the Get Clients Now! marketing program, a paid speaker, and the author of two workbooks, The MasterCalendar Solution and An Introductory Guide to Delegation. Joan has been quoted in Chronically Happy by Lori Hartwell and contributed to the second edition of Get Clients Now!by C.J. Hayden.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Demos Health; 1 edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932603689
• ISBN-13: 978-1932603682
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Helpful as I Would Have Liked April 8, 2008

By V. Conley

Format:Paperback

I expected more in the way of coping skills and less in the way of trying to convince me to keep working despite illness.

I didn't need half of the book, which was essentially arguing that work is good for you. Most of us don't have the option to quit. I thought that point was moot. I wanted helpful advice.

I did get some comfort from the stories of other women's experiences. The discussions about taking the time you need so that you can do a better job left me feeling pretty vindicated (sometimes I feel a little guilty, and I liked the fact that this, too, was "normal." It seems as if that would be obvious, but it doesn't always feel that way).

I didn't like the fact that everyone mentioned apparently LOVES to work. In my opinion, work is neccesary so that you can do the things you WANT to do. It can be enjoyable, but it's not something I'd ever associate with the word "love." Ever.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Resource for Working Women April 8, 2008

By L. Lynette Mejia

Format:Paperback

Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease, by Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander, addresses an audience that would seem to be a niche until one comes upon the statistic that 20% of Americans live with chronic illnesses. This book gives women who live with the inconvenience and health issues related to these conditions a resource that is one part pep talk and three parts information and guidance.

Joffe and Friedlander cover everything from why it is important for women to keep their careers after being diagnosed to how to manage their time and care schedules with employment obligations. They write about the practical concerns of working despite illness as well as the emotional toll such a decision creates, and offer solutions for how to deal with both the good days and the bad. The information throughout is interspersed with numerous personal stories from both the authors and other women who have experienced the problems and triumphs of making the decision to continue working.

All in all, this book is informative, well-written, and an asset to any woman who finds herself in the position of learning to juggle health-issues with career obligations.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful for blue and pink collar June 1, 2008

By Shannon B. Stidman

Format:Paperback

I feel like this book is only good for white collar career people. It doesn't help the rest of us just trying to get by. If you are blue collar, pink collar, or even military, this book will not help you. And she should have gone into the options Vocational Rehabilitation offers. She doesn't even have Vocational Rehabilitation in the index.

This book is further proof that people are clueless about the struggles the disabled working class face.