Product Description
When a woman receives a life-changing diagnosis of a serious, chronic illness, her first instinct may be to quit the workforce. This may bring a strong sense of relief initially, but as her disease becomes manageable, work is again desirable. Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease urges women so affected to stay employed in order to preserve their independence and sense of self. Filled with tips, tricks, and first-person accounts, this book is a resounding call for self-reliance and resilience. Authors Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander identity the factors that make working particularly difficult for women with autoimmune disease, and then offer practical suggestions to address them. Exploring such issues as the complexities of autoimmune diseases and the correlation between disease, diagnosis, and career development, they detail exactly what it takes to be successful in a job, including developing strategies and tactics, evaluating communication skills, building a support team, and considerations for self-employment.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 12 reviews)

Disappointed by J.D. Bishop

2 Stars
April 04, 2009
I was expecting a book of more substance! I was hoping for some great "success" work/life stories for those with autoimmune diseases. What I got was -- get a good team so you can rely on them when needed & that they highly recommend starting a work-at-home business so one can work from bed if needed. It didn't leave me feeling very encouraged or uplifted. Perhaps it's good they didn't "sugarcoat" the reality of living with an autoimmune disease. Maybe they should change the title to match the content.

Informative, engaging and inspiring overview of working with AD by M. Dewey (Costa Mesa, CA, USA)

4 Stars
August 20, 2008
This book presents a clear and concise overview of Autoimmune Disease with the well-documented facts, stages and strategies of navigating chronic illness. The personal stories, case studies and examples where engaging and inspiring. As a wellness coach, I find this book a valuable resource for working women with AD and chronic illness, as well as their bosses, coworkers, family, friends and health support team for exploring a pro-work perspective. As the daughter of a mother with ulcerative colitus and having walked my own path of recreating my life and career after a long stress-related illness, I wish I had found this book earlier.

A manual for working women handling chronic pain issues of all kinds by Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

5 Stars
August 18, 2008
Over seventy percent of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most frequently during childbearing years - also a woman's peak career years - and so the connection between gender, workplace and health is solid. This is a manual for working women handling chronic pain issues of all kinds: stories of such women blend with discussions of the correlation between disease, career and women's habits to make for an eye-opening analysis any health or women's studies library needs - and many a business collection, as well.

When deciding to go back to work or not, this book will help. by C. Miserandino (NY)

4 Stars
July 07, 2008
It is a very hard decision to leave work because of chronic illness or disease and for many it is a long, emotional process that leaves one drained. There is no right answer, just what works for you and your health. Many experts agree that going back to work is important for self esteem, independence, and for financial freedom. Others say that one should not feel pressure to go back to work and that you can gain a strong sense of self in other ways through hobbies, friendships and more. It is a fine line to walk when your health is at stake. People on both sides of this issue feel strongly on their positions. I am just happy that books like this are out there to help you make a decision that is right for you. I am also happy that many more employers are helping their employees stay at work, or adjust their work arrangements for disability. We have come a long way baby! This is a short easy to read book, packed with information. The questions raised in each chapter help walk you through the emotional process. The tips and tricks mentioned by the authors are worth buying this book for. I could see this book being helpful to anyone suffering from any chronic health issues, not just autoimmune illnesses as stated in the title. In summary, I think it is important for everyone to make the best decisions for themselves. I also think it is important to make a well informed decision. I recommend this book and I think this book will help anyone going through this process of deciding whether to go back to work or not. So I say to you, Rosalind...Keep writing Girlfriend!!! [...]

A Great Guide! by Laurie Edwards

5 Stars
July 03, 2008
Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! is a wonderful resource for the millions of women living with autoimmune disease--or any other chronic condition that may influence your ability to do your job. Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander have written a thorough and easy to read guide that is practical, pragmatic, and passionate. The authors have combined salient facts and statistics with patient stories and their own experiences in the working world to personalize the dilemmas and decisions so many women face, and their wisdom and insights are affirming and empowering. They explore the most challenging aspects of working with chronic illness--the unpredictability of chronic conditions, misconceptions about the nature of autoimmune diseases, and the emotional and financial benefits of remaining in the workforce--and offer strategies to get people thinking about their options and skills creatively. The idea that working provides a sense of normalcy in an otherwise abnormal situation is repeated often in the book, and with good reason--Joffe and Friedlander have been in the trenches of work and illness and know firsthand the value of a productive job. If you're a patient struggling with how to handle your condition and your job, you'll learn a lot about how to advocate for your needs. A great addition! --Laurie Edwards, author of Life Disrupted: Getting Real about Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and ThirtiesLife Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties

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