Disability and Gender

Fact
300 million women are living with a disability. That's 20% of the world female population.

• Inability to access maternal health services during pregnancy and labour, resulting in complications such as Fistula
• Increased vulnerability to reproductive health problems, such as HIV and female genital mutilation as a result of cultural beliefs and practises
• Inability to access educational opportunities to make healthy choices
• Inability to access employment opportunities which causes reduced financial security

• General development programs have historically neglected the needs of women with disabilities
• Health services are often unaware of how to meet the needs of women with disabilities, for example, providing alternative methods for communication, such as Braille to enable women to participate in the decision making process
• Girls with disabilities are rarely sent to school
• Women with disabilities are often unable to access vocational training and employment opportunities
• Negative attitudes towards disability prevent women with disabilities from fulfilling marriage and motherhood roles causing further marginalisation.
• Women and girls with disabilities are prone to all forms of abuse

• Providing access to opportunities for education
• Providing access to opportunities for vocational training and micro-finance programs.
• Raising awareness of disability in the community
• Training birth attendants
• Providing access to health care
• Engaging women as decision makers in the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects that impact on their lives