ABSTRACT
Adults who have spina bifida carry the past with them, both personally and cul-
turally. Their personal past includes their abilities, physical impairments, coping
strategies, and social skills. These affect their well-being and functioning as
adults. As reviewed in earlier chapters of this book, impairments and disabilities
that occur with spina bifida include nonverbal and verbal learning disabilities as
well as problems with attention; and executive function these can affect perform-
ance in postsecondary education, employment, communication, and socializa-
tion. Adults with spina bifida typically have limited mobility with paraplegia
and may have impaired fine motor skills. They may have problems accessing
transportation. They may have recurrent medical problems such as urinary
tract infection, skin breakdown, and ventricular shunt malfunction that can
limit them from participating in school or work for an extended time. They
may have urinary or fecal incontinence, which can affect social interactions
and self-esteem. For each of these challenges, they possess coping skills, with
some individuals being more resilient than others.
