Pfrommer, Margaret, 1937-1998

Margaret Carole Pfrommer was born on August 14, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Fenger Highschool in 1955 and attended the evening division at DePaul University. When she was just before entering college in 1956 she contracted bulbar spinal-paralytic polio, which left her with quadriplegia and severe respiratory problems. Since she was only able to move her head her parents assisted her in their home. When they died, Margaret went to a nursing home.

After two years she reentered the rehabilitation process. Through her frequent visits at Northwestern's hospital Margaret became a well-known and well-liked patient. Soon she was asked to volunteer as a research assistant in the hospital, and she joined staff in 1973. At the Prosthetics Research Laboratory and the Rehabilitation Engineering Program she served as official receptionist, answering telephones for both programs by using specially designed telephone equipment, and later she was responsible for working with engineers and technicians, giving them feedback on their designs and development of assistive devices for handicapped people. During the following years, with progress in bioengineering, her duties were constantly expanded. With the sipping and puffing on a straw method she was now able to operate a computer-typewriter. At that time she also focused on consumer advocacy. She highlighted the importance of individually customized care plans, improved community support, transportation, insurance imbursements, personal care assistants and home health care professionals.

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