One modified her grip so her palm was on one side and four fingers on the other with her thumb pointing back. Also we got her to push with her trigger arm not just try to pull with the other - to be clear use BOTH arms to cycle the slide.
The second lady found that old hook the rear sight on the belt and push down worked well for her. I learned that technique from a Top at the John F. Kennedy School for Wayward Boys. He had been hit in the gun arm in Nam and improvised a way to cock his 45 - he felt it saved his life.
All right! I just tried the first scenario and presto! Thanks so much.