Our study describes a cohort of women who had moderate-to-severe physical disabilities who historically have been discouraged from pregnancy. Women with physical disabilities experienced higher rates of preterm deliveries, low birthweight infants, and pregnancy complications. The pregnancy complications in most cases were not severe and were readily managed. Although it was common to experience functional changes during pregnancy, these changes had largely resolved by 6 weeks postpartum. Larger observational studies are needed to better understand the etiology and prevention of preterm labor and low-birthweight infants in this population, and, in particular, the role of maternal infections.

Medical schools may vary in the specific manner in which they arrange for accommodations, determine eligibility, and deliver services to students with disabilities. Most institutions, however, follow similar procedures and guidelines for students to request academic and clinical accommodations. The following describes two protocols, representative of the way many schools handle such requests. We strongly encourage schools to assign the decision-making responsibility for disability accommodations to one designated person or office that includes a well-trained disability services counselor rather than relying on a faculty committee, for the reasons described below.