"What do women with intellectual disabilities experience as they age - and what can service providers and researchers learn from their stories? These questions are the focus of this book, which weaves informative research with the oral histories of more than 160 women in 18 countries. Emphasizing that disability is not a disease, the authors use their research and the women's diverse personal stories to explore contributing factors to healthy aging. Readers will review statistics and discover how women with disabilities around the world manage the everyday issues they face, including: economic factors such as securing employment, controlling finances, and budgeting for living arrangements; personal issues such as grooming, mobility, and support systems; health and nutrition; recreation; relationships with family members and friends; and overall quality of life." "The authors also examine the influence of disability polices and programs on all of these factors and suggest future directions."--Jacket.