Pregnancy and Disability: A Scoping Review of the Rehabilitation Counseling Literature
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Source Publication
Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin
Source ISSN
0034-3552
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1177/00343552251320944
Abstract
Pregnancy is a common occurrence for individuals with disabilities. However, people with disabilities have historically been kept from pregnancy and parenthood due to societal bias. There has been limited research in rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation psychology about the intersection of disability, pregnancy, and employment. The purpose of the study was to explore the breadth of extant rehabilitation counseling and psychology literature on pregnancy and disability with the scoping review methodology. Nine search terms were used to search eight rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation psychology journals from January 1973 to March 2023. A total of 237 articles were found that had one of the search terms, and out of those nine articles were assessed to be relevant for the discussion on disability and pregnancy. The results show a small, but long-standing call to promote a line of research to best support the independent living goals of pregnancy and parenthood for full community participation of people with chronic illness and disability.
Recommended Citation
Fry, Hannah E.; Richard, Constance; Kriofske Mainella, Alexandra M.; and Tang, Xiaolei, "Pregnancy and Disability: A Scoping Review of the Rehabilitation Counseling Literature" (2026). College of Education Faculty Research and Publications. 661.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/edu_fac/661
Comments
Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Vol. 59, No. 3 (2026). DOI.