Access Variables

I am having an issue with disabling a form field. The page pulls up records in a database. A user is allowed change the record as needed until it is published in one or both of 2 options (combo boxes). If the record is published in one then all other fields except the unpublished combo box is disabled, allowing the user to publish the other at a later date. However, I run in to my problem here.

I cannot access the data in the fields if they are disabled. Is there some way to access the data in the fields while they are disabled? Or is there some way to not allow a user to edit the contents of a text fields without disabling it? Either way would likely get me past my problem.