Zeitschrift Behinderung und Dritte Welt

S CHWERPUNKTTHEMAhope that as a result of the GDDI, eachparticipant will secure a mentor or supporterin their country or region, so thatthey can be linked to regional activitiesand additional learning opportunities."(American Friends Service Committee staffmember)More opportunities are needed for womenwith disabilities to share their message. Nondisabledwomen can assist by inviting womento speak on panels and contribute to generaldiscussions, as opposed to creating separatesessions or programs specific to disability. Inthis way, disabled women’s organizations, feministorganizations, and international developmentorganizations can work together and listento each other routinely to support their mutualgoals. Many of the organizations WILDwomen connected with during their trainingshave a far reach and a strong presence amongfeminist movements worldwide.MIUSA’s Tips- Reach out: invite women with disabilities toyour meetings and ask for invitations to theirmeetings. Ask community members to helpSuccess story: Including Women withDisabilities in Nigerian Gender andDevelopment ProgramsA 2003 WILD alumna, Ekaete Umoh of Nigeria,reported on how she was able to put these skillsinto practice. In addressing issues of invisibilityand discrimination of women with disabilities inher community, she has successfully infused theirperspective into the mainstream women’s movement.Ms. Umoh leads a team of disabled and nondisabledpeople as the national coordinator andexecutive director of Family Centered Initiativefor Challenged Persons (FACICP).“Since the WILD program, we have been ableto convince development agencies and embassiesto identify with our work. Through a series ofadvocacy visits paid to development agencies involvedin health and reproductive rights issues,more women with disabilities are being graduallyincluded in the works of these organizations,”said Umoh.Women with disabilities are now being includedin discussions of women’s reproductiverights, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. “We arenow well-positioned to promote the issues ofwomen and girls with disabilities in Nigeria,”Umoh stated, “by ensuring that disabled womenissues are included in all development efforts, especiallyas it relates to gender and developmentprograms.”A representative from Sexual Assault Support Services,a nonprofit in Eugene, speaks to WILD women aboutproviding support for women with disabilities.Photo credit: Mobility International USAyou find disabled women. Contact parentgroups, health clinics, social centers, schoolsfor disabled children, churches and communityprograms.- Conduct informational sessions, applicationprocesses and training at the places wherewomen with disabilities meet.- Hold meetings of your projects in the placeswhere women with disabilities meet.- Form partnerships with organizations led bywomen with disabilities.- Hire qualified women with disabilities asfield staff, consultants, trainers, administrators.- Include women with disabilities on communityadvisory councils and Boards of Directors.- Incorporate your services into existing projectsrun by women with disabilities.- Make sure that program information reacheswomen with disabilities in a format that theycan use.- Seek out women with disabilities to contributetheir perspectives and concerns on policiesregarding human rights, development,and issues of importance to women.- Provide support for women with disabilitiesto participate in regional and internationalconferences and policy and decision makingmeetings.- Facilitate coalition-building between womenwith disabilities and other disenfranchisedwomen.- Introduce disabled community leaders to potentialfunders and partners.- Pass on relevant information, news, announcements.- Facilitate opportunities for women and girlsZeitschrift Behinderung und Dritte Welt 3/200925