Inclusion: A catalyst for change
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Dialogue
Inclusion: A catalyst for change
JANA MAIURI AND LYDIA SHULA
ABSTRACT Jana Maiuri and Lydia Shula argue that women’s movements can expand their perspective and scope of influence by supporting the participation and contributions of women and girls with disabilities. KEYWORDS disabilities; inclusion; community projects
Strategies for change Diversity challenges us to think outside of our own work and activism and see some old issues in a new light. These differences and opportunities are catalysts for change. How does change happen in a movement? Change happens when people within that movement employ new strategies. Movements are stronger when everyone is included. One way the women’s movement can expand its perspective and its scope of influence is by supporting the participation and contributions of women and girls with disabilities. Although one in ten women on our planet has a disability, the inclusion of women with disabilities into the women’s movement is still peripheral. However, many ‘disability issues’are also ‘women’s issues’: the disability movement is fighting on many fronts for the right to an education, to live independently, to have access to health care, and for reproductive rights.
Challenging old stereotypes Despite facing double discrimination based on gender and disability, many women with disabilities are challenging old stereotypes and working to be full and active participants in their communities. Around the world, women with disabilities are involved in politics and leading groundbreaking community projects. They have joined together to build advocacy organizations, fight for access to education and health care, and change laws and policies regarding their own rights. The experience of women with disabilities in overcoming significant barriers to be successful activists has led to innovative strategies that are useful for non-disabled feminists. Non-disabled activists can also learn from women with disabilities about challenging the status quo, something which all feminists do every day of their lives. Disabled feminists should be at every workshop at important women’s conferences like the AWID forum. The solution is not to have more segregated sessions focused solely Development (2006) 49(1), 84–85. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100228
Maiuri and Shula: Disabilities on disabled women’s issues, but to have disabled women included on panels and contributing to general discussions. Disabled women’s organizations, feminist organizations, and international development organizations should work together and listen to each other routinely to support the common causes that exist.
Moving towards inclusion What does an inclusive organization look like? How can non-disabled women include women with disabilities in their projects? Some of the answers are simple. Non-disabled and disabled feminists alike need to make the effort to seek out the ‘other’: go to meetings, suggest cooperation, offer support, and share their needs. Meeting places for conferences should be accessible to dis
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