• Introduction
• From the Editor
• Staff
• Orchid: A Collaboration
• To order copies
• Questions
• Thank You

Introduction to Orchid

When we were choosing a name for this magazine, Orchid made the short list. Orchids take amazingly different shapes, forms, and growth habits. Some produce blossoms no larger than a mosquito while others are as large as a dinner plate. A handful of species bloom year round, and orchids come in all colors of the rainbow.

A common misconception is that orchids are fragile and difficult to grow. Actually, most species are quite resilient and many can grow in your own living room. Orchids are among the oldest plants on earth and are found all over the world. There are 35,000 species of orchids, making up the largest plant family in nature. This beautiful and resilient flowering plant has many characteristics that resemble the strength and diversity of women with disabilities.

Is it any wonder that Orchid seemed a perfect name for a magazine that offers a brand new look at women with disabilities?

From the Editor

Dear Orchid Readers,

We've created Orchid to encourage all women with disabilities to be as healthy as possible. Some individuals with disabilities assume that they are unhealthy because of their disability - not true!

Being healthy means a lot more than not having an illness or disability. If you eat well, go to the doctor for regular check-ups, handle stress well, get some kind of exercise, take time to relax, and spend time with family and friends, you are healthy.

Your health can affect many things - from your emotions to your relationships. Think of your health as part of the way you live your life. Living a healthy lifestyle means that you make choices to improve your physical, social and emotional health.

And of course, choosing a healthy lifestyle has many benefits. A healthy lifestyle can help prevent some medical problems that you might have because of a disability. It can make it easier to do your daily activities because you have increased strength or energy, or you may feel happier and better able to handle your problems. The list of benefits is endless and can be different for everyone. You'll see in Orchid that our view of health focuses not on removing illness or disability, but on wellness. With a wellness focus, you can approach your health in a positive way that is proactive and prevents problems from happening instead of reacting to problems after they occur.

In addition to wellness, we also discuss relationships, gardening and yes, even travel. If we've merely whetted your appetite on a particular topic, Orchid also offers an abundance of resource listings.

Orchid was put together with the care and collaborative efforts of the NC Office on Disability and Health, the NC Office of Women's Health, the NC Task Force on Health and Women with Disabilities, and the many women with disabilities who offered their time, creativity, and personal perspectives on living well with a disability.

We hope you enjoy our magazine,

Pam Dickens, editor

Staff

Orchid: A Collaboration

The NC Office on Disability and Health is a partnership between the Women's and Children's Health Section of the Division of Public Health and the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Through an integrated program of policy, practice, and research, the NC Office on Disability and Health promotes the health and wellness of persons with disabilities in North Carolina.

Orchid was made possible by grants from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Federal Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. Contents of articles do not necessarily represent the positions of the Centers for Disease Control or the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.

To order copies

To order copies of Orchid, the magazine, call the NC Office on Disability and Health at (919)966-2932 or email odhpubs@mail.fpg.unc.edu. You may also write:
NCODH
CB#8185, UNC-CH
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8185

Articles are also available in PDF format on the NCODH web site.

Questions

If you have a question about content, please call Pam Dickens at the NCODH office at (919)966-0871 or email her at dickens@mail.fpg.unc.edu.

Thank You

Thank You! to a group of dynamic and dedicated women with disabilities who shared their time, insights, ideas, and images to create Orchid:

Susanna Bourgeois, Kim Calabretta, Beth Foyle, Lauren Howard, Angela Langley, Annette Lauber, Margaret Lucus, Sarah Mayfield, Roxie Oakes, Lara Parker, Donna Permar, Caroline Thomas, Dianne Tyson, Lorraine Woodward

NC Office on Disability and Health