Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
Update Report September - December 2008

WWDA takes this opportunity to thank our members and allies for the support given to us during the year. We wish you a peaceful and safe Christmas and New Year, and look forward to your continued support in 2009.

Return to the Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) Newsletters Page

Contents

1. WWDA Wins Violence Prevention Awards

The Manual has been developed to serve a wide range of users and is accompanied by a suite of accessible formats. This unique product is now highly sought after worldwide and is being used as an information source by many organisations and individuals. There has been high demand for the Resource Manual on Violence Against Women With Disabilities since it was published, with more than 1700 copies being sold to date. The Project and the Manual have been an outstanding success and the outcomes to date are many and significant.

WWDA's work in the area of violence prevention was recognized in late 2008 with the organization being awarded two significant Violence Prevention Awards. WWDA received a Certificate of Merit and a monetary award of $3000 under the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards. These National Awards reward good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crimes in Australia, to encourage public initiatives and to assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects that will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.

WWDA was also the State winner of the Tasmanian Women's Safety Award under the Tasmanian Crime Prevention & Community Safety Awards, which acknowledge outstanding contributions to crime prevention and community safety in the Tasmanian community.

Both the Awards were presented to WWDA by the Tasmanian Minister for Police, at a ceremony held in Tasmania on December 10th.

2. Violence Prevention Update

2.1. 'Stop Violence Against Women' Website Expanded

2.2. National Violence Action Plan Consultations - Feedback Reports

• Written Submissions;
• Forums with Stakeholders;
• Face-to-face and Telephone Interviews;
• On-line Interviews;
• Rural and Remote Consultations;
• Expert Roundtables;
• Presentations and Briefings.

The reports are available in HTML on the Office for Women website at: www.ofw.facs.gov.au/nationalcouncil/consultations/index.htm

For ease of access to members, WWDA has compiled the information into one document (available in Word and/or PDF) which can be emailed on request, or alternatively, downloaded from the WWDA website at: www.wwda.org.au/viol.htm

If you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

2.3. Women, Domestic and Family Violence and Homelessness: A Synthesis Report

The report 'Women, Domestic and Family Violence and Homelessness: A Synthesis Report' is available in HTML and PDF from the Office for Women website at: www.ofw.facs.gov.au/publications/synthesis_report04/default.htm

WWDA has also compiled the information into a Word version. WWDA can email the report (in Word and/or PDF) on request, or alternatively, it can downloaded from the WWDA website at: www.wwda.org.au/viol.htm

If you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

2.4. 'Words to Action': new electronic newsletter on violence against women

Words to Action is a new quarterly newsletter produced by the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW), and is intended to serve as a vehicle for more effective information-sharing on new initiatives and good practices in preventing and addressing violence against women. The first edition was produced in October 2008, and as of January 2009, it will be disseminated as an electronic newsletter only.

If you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

NB: WWDA will be writing to the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW) to request that the Words to Action Newsletter be made available in formats other than PDF. At this stage, it appears the Newsletter is only available in PDF. To ensure access for WWDA members, WWDA has produced a Word version of the October 2008 edition of Words to Action.

2.5. United Nations system activities on violence against women

The report is available for download from the UNDAW website. The direct link is: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/Inventory%20Feb%202008.pdf

Alternatively, if you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

2.6. United Nations database on violence against women

• Ensure easy access to comprehensive and up-to-date information on all forms of violence against women, as well as actions undertaken to address such violence
• Encourage further collection, availability, use and dissemination of data on violence against women, as well as analysis of such data
• Increase opportunities for exchange of experiences and promising practices in addressing violence against women
• Improve tracking of trends in addressing violence against women
• Strengthen the knowledge base for effective policy responses to prevent and address violence against women.

The database will contain information on measures undertaken by States to address violence against women in the following areas:

• Legal framework
• Policies and programmes
• Institutional mechanisms
• Domestic, regional and international coordination and collaboration initiatives
• Services for women victims/survivors of violence
• Resources
• Awareness raising and capacity-building
• Research and evaluations
• Data and statistics
• Promising practices

The information on the database will be searchable by: Region (global, regional, national); Measures undertaken; Forms of violence addressed; and, Year measure was undertaken. Member States are encouraged to provide information for inclusion in the database. A questionnaire serves as the primary tool for information collection. Other sources of information include:

• States parties' reports to human rights treaty bodies
• Information provided by Member States in follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995); for reports of the Secretary-General; and statements made at the United Nations
• Information available through relevant United Nations entities

The database will be launched in March 2009, during the fifty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It will be expanded and updated as additional information becomes available.

For queries please see the FAQ section at: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/

and/or send an email to vawdatabase@un.org

2.7. Queensland Government Strategy to target domestic and family violence

WWDA has responded to the Consultation Paper and provided a copy of our recent Submission to the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children. WWDA believes that the issues raised in our Submission are extremely timely and relevant to the Queensland Government's current consultations regarding the development of a Queensland Strategy to Target Domestic and Family Violence 2009-2013. WWDA has therefore requested that the issues we have identified are given due consideration in the Queensland Government's consultation process. WWDA has urged the Queensland Government's Domestic and Family Violence Strategy Team to consider, where applicable, the strategies WWDA's Submission recommends, in an effort to end and prevent violence against women with disabilities in Queensland.

A copy of the Consultation Paper 'A Queensland Government Strategy to target domestic and family violence 2009-2013' can be downloaded from: www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/consultqld/

Responses are due by 19 December 2008.

For more information, email: dfvconsultation@communities.qld.gov.au

2.8. Review of the 'Safe at Home' Response to Family Violence in Tasmania

• the safety of victims is paramount;
• police are responsible for providing immediate intervention to secure victim safety and manage the risk that the offender might repeat or escalate the violence;
• the victim does not determine the response of the justice system;
• family violence is a crime and arrest and prosecution will occur wherever evidence of an offence exists;
• wherever possible victims should be able to choose to remain in or return (as soon as possible) to their own homes, and
• the criminal justice response to family violence should be seamless and the roles and responsibilities of each participating agency and service should be clear.

An independent evaluation of the Act (which constituted Stage one of the Safe at Home Review), was undertaken between November 2007 - March 2008. The Report from Stage One of the Review can be found at: www.safeathome.tas.gov.au/review_of_family_violence_act_2004

Stage Two of the Safe at Home Review is now underway and the Tasmanian Government is seeking input from members of the Tasmanian community on the effectiveness of Safe at Home in:

• reducing the level of family violence in the medium to long term;
• promoting the safety of people affected by family violence; and
• changing the offending behaviour of those responsible for the violence.

WWDA has contributed to the Review by providing a copy of our recent Submission to the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Children and requesting that the issues and recommendations raised by WWDA in the Submission, are considered in the Safe at Home Review.

For more information, including Terms of Reference for the Review, go to: www.safeathome.tas.gov.au/review_of_safe_at_home_services

2.9. Article (USA): Feds Focus on Disabled as Hidden Victims of Abuse

Women with disabilities often feel left out of domestic-violence shelters and unable to communicate with hotline operators. A national meeting in December may help spotlight a hidden population of abuse victims and survivors.

Domestic violence among women with disabilities rarely if ever gets this kind of national attention. But next month, representatives from 150 programs that receive funding from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women will meet in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss this particular safety problem. Cindy Dyer, executive director of the Office on Violence Against Women--which provides $10 million in yearly funds to state and community organizations--said the focus of the Dec. 16-17 meeting will be on improving coordination between disability-service providers and the array of institutions involved with domestic violence: battered women's shelters, the police and the courts.

"One thing we do know is that we need to be able to provide a victim with all the different services that she needs wherever in the system she falls," said Dyer.

Dyer said women with mental disabilities are a particular concern because abusers will often consider them less likely to report abuse or be believed.

Karen, a woman with multiple physical and congenital disabilities, said that has been true in her own case. Because she feared being identified by her current abuser, she only agreed to be interviewed if her real name was not published. She said service providers have been unwilling and unable to help her.

"I've been abused by caregivers, family, boyfriends, nurses and doctors, and even by other disabled people my entire life," Karen told Women's eNews recently. She was contacted through an online support group for people with disabilities.

'I've Been Turned Away'

Karen said she has been forced to deal with counselors with no training in disability issues, including social workers on an abuse hotline. "Battered women's programs have literally turned me away because of my disabilities," she said. "My church gave me the cold shoulder as well."

Karen thinks service providers often don't consider the possibility of domestic violence among people with disabilities. She said she is often told that she must be exaggerating and her abusive caregiver is the one who is treated like an "overstressed victim."

"It's made out to be my fault because I haven't done the 'sensible' thing of resigning my life and moving into a nursing home."

While men with disabilities are susceptible to domestic abuse the problem is worse for women because they, as a group, are five to eight times more likely to suffer from domestic violence by intimate partners than are men, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Women in the United States with disabilities are significantly more likely to suffer from domestic violence than are other women.

Estimates differ, but the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in October that 37 percent of women with disabilities report intimate partner abuse as compared to 21 percent of women without disabilities.

This figure does not include violence suffered at the hands of caregivers or family members who are not intimate partners.

Many Shelters Inaccessible

Many battered women's resources are not accessible to people with disabilities. Safe havens and the legal system may not be equipped to deal with a victim who is deaf or cognitively impaired, for example.

The Office for Women in Westchester County, New York, is beginning to move into this neglected area of abuse prevention. In partnership with the Westchester County's Office for the Disabled, the women's office is currently conducting one of the first local studies in the nation on rates of abuse among women with disabilities. The joint effort--which works with shelters and other providers of nonresidential services for sufferers of domestic violence--hopes to gain more information about such incidences among residents of Westchester County. The agencies were founded five years apart about three decades ago.

Camille Murphy, director of the Office for Women, said the idea arose when she and her colleagues noticed over the years that "although all of our shelters are accessible, the use of them by disabled people had become real."

Last spring, Westchester County was "able to turn a direct focus on the issue," says Murphy. Soon thereafter surveys were sent to 350 police departments, elected officials, battered women's shelters and disability service providers. To date the county has collected about 10 percent of the surveys and expects to complete the data collection process in January 2009. Murphy said 70 percent of those women with disabilities surveyed so far have been abused by caregivers, including both family members and professionals. When the research is complete, Murphy said she and her colleagues hope to better understand how to provide services that address the unique needs of domestic violence victims who have a disability. Murphy says that in addition to encouraging community outreach, Westchester County expects to be able to create a "more formal network of service providers," who will have been trained in disability sensitivity and accessibility issues in order to more directly concentrate on these needs.

Model of Comprehensive Services

One group that might provide Murphy with a model is New York City's Barrier Free Living. Established over 25 years ago, it offers comprehensive services for people with disabilities and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as one of 12 model programs in the country. The organization runs two programs for people with disabilities who are affected by abuse. Freedom House, in operation since 2006, is the nation's first totally accessible crisis shelter. Offering food, clothing and occupational therapy, the safe haven has strobe lights that serve as alarms for deaf individuals, Braille signage for the blind and a completely wheelchair friendly design. It was developed for both abuse survivors with disabilities and those survivors with children who have disabilities. In short, the shelter primarily serves individuals and families affected by disability and domestic violence, housing 95 residents at a time for up to four-and-a-half months.

Nonresidential intervention services--such as counseling and safety planning--are provided by the Secret Garden, the second program run by Barrier Free Living. Secret Garden services include help with placement in residences, lining up future home care, medical care and schooling for children. Between the 44-apartment Freedom House and the intervention services of the Secret Garden, Paul Feuerstein, president of Barrier Free Living, estimates that the organization served 2,000 victims of abuse last year, most of whom were women and children. "We have worked with women from 13 different states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, who have come to us for services because they haven't been able to find the accessible shelters where they are," Feuerstein said.

3. WWDA Response to the Australian Government's Discussion Paper 'Developing a National Disability Strategy for Australia'

WWDA's Submission in response to the Australian Government's Discussion Paper 'Developing a National Disability Strategy for Australia' provides detail on what WWDA considers to be vital elements of a National Disability Strategy (NDS). WWDA is of the view that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provides a clear context and logical framework for the development of Australia's National Disability Strategy, and that such a Strategy is a key element of the Convention's implementation at the domestic level.

WWDA's Submission also advocates that the NDS accord priority to the needs of vulnerable groups of people with disabilities, as well as thematic issues of major concern. In this context, we consider women, Indigenous peoples, children, refugees & asylum seekers, and prisoners as warranting particular attention. WWDA has identified several issues which we believe must be given priority within the NDS and these are: forced sterilisation; violence; removal of children from parents with disabilities; abuse in institutions; over-representation in the criminal justice system; poverty; data collection & research; unmet need; capacity building of disability organisations & networks; and, digital inclusion. The rationale and context for these priority groups and issues are discussed in the Submission.

WWDA's Submission is being widely disseminated, including a copy sent to a number of Ministers and politicians. A copy is available on WWDA's website in HTML, Word and PDF versions, and can be found at: www.wwda.org.au/subs.htm

Please contact Carolyn at wwda@wwda.org.au if you would like more information, or if you would like a copy emailed to you.

4. International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability - A Report by Katharine Annear (Australian Delegate)

There were many highlights during WILD; I will describe just a few from the program that ran for nearly a month.

The Gender Disability and Development Institute (GDDI) took place over four days during WILD. GDDI brought the WILD women together with 25 resource people from the world's leading development and international aid agencies including the Global Fund for Women, World Vision, Handicap International Trickle Up, Mercy Corp and AWID. The GDDI enabled us to have frank discussions amongst ourselves and with resource people about the inclusion of women with disabilities in development programs world wide. This coming together of people is a very powerful strategy in itself as it allows people to see first hand the impacts they can have on each other. The force of economic globalisation is undeniable. The creation of a Globalised Consciousness is imperative if we as a global society are to survive the economic tide. This Globalised Consciousness must be one that is inclusive of every aspect of human diversity so that no one person or group of people is left behind. Conversations like the GDDI allow us to focus on human and social capital and to contribute to the ethics and consciousness of a Global Society.

As was reinforced, the Disability Rights Movement as whole is a relatively young one and has required direct action in order to bring about policy and legislation that delivers fundamental human rights to people with disabilities. Until recently this battle has had to be fought person by person, group by group, state by state and country by country, and whilst the fighting must continue, as was discussed extensively during WILD, people with disabilities now have an important and powerful instrument for change - The UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The UN Convention has 50 Articles guided by 8 principles that ensure a mechanism for fundamental human rights to be delivered to people with disabilities across the globe. The work of each activist and organisation is to now lobby their country to ratify The Convention and its optional protocol and to hold the government accountable to The Convention and demand the creation or adjustment of laws and practices that align with The Convention.

Effective use of the media is an important strategy for any campaign. A day of focus on the Media enabled us to meet with experienced media personnel and discuss strategies for use of both public and private media. There is a lot of potential for women with disabilities to create their own media and many are already doing so - including a wonderful WILD woman television presenter from Tanzania. We discussed the local low tech production of 'Zines' through to contributing to online media such as Blogs and RSS feeds - the internet being the most up to date source of information that exists. We were interviewed by a television crew and each given feedback on our presentation.

A focus day on health, sexuality, self protection and personal relationships really had one of the most powerful impacts on the WILD women - many resources were shared with us and we in turn shared our stories - some of them of the harsh realities of being vulnerable women. To be among such vulnerable yet immensely powerful women on that day was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

Many other educative opportunities took place around history, education, rights, access, employment, law and policy making. The town of Eugene, Oregon, its people and the staff at Mobility International USA were warm, welcoming, generous and empowering people whom I couldn't thank enough for the experience. And to be amongst the women that became the 2008 WILD women was an absolute privilege and brought much joy to my heart.

Overall, Participating in the WILD program had a significant positive impact upon my confidence, my ability to be flexible and diversify my ways of relating to people, to information and to the environment. The opportunities to challenge myself physically through a ropes course, swimming and white water rafting have had a significant impact on my mental and physical outlook. I was given the opportunity to open my mind and my heart to new ideas and to revisit old concepts and gain greater understanding of issues that affect women with disabilities world wide. I felt so supported during the WILD program that the sense of aloneness I often live with as woman with a disability disappeared. I was able to form new relationships in a very short and intense period of time. I have found friendships that I believe will endure over time and across boundaries.

I am inspired to change aspects of my life both small and not so small. I feel both mentally and physically invigorated. I hope that I will be able to transfer the WILD experience to my daily life and give more life to the seeds planted in the time we spent together.

By Katharine Annear

5. New: International Network of Women with Disabilities (INWWD)

WWDA Executive Director Carolyn Frohmader acted on the International Advisory Committee prior to the Summit to assist in the development of the Global Summit agenda. As an outcome of the Summit, participants adopted the following resolution:

From this, the International Network of Women with Disabilities (INWWD) was established. The Network is currently email based, and is facilitated by Bonnie Brayton, Executive Director of the Disabled Women's Network in Canada.

The INWWD has recently developed Terms of Reference. Its mission includes:

• To encourage and assist in strengthening INWWD member organizations and individual women with disabilities to collaborate and participate more actively at the international, regional, national and local levels.
• To acknowledge and support the principles in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Convention on the Elimination of All form of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• To identify and develop inclusive positions and joint strategies on key disability and gender related issues and to inform UN bodies, Governments and relevant UN agencies, international non-governmental disability organisations, women's organisations, on issues where there is inwwd agreement on a common position.
• To use our network to share our knowledge and experiences, enhance our capacity, speak up for our rights, bring about change, and empower women with disabilities and promote our involvement in relevant politics at all levels.
• To respect the sovereignty of each organization, groups and individuals of WWD, respect the expertise of WWD on issues affecting their own constituency.
• To bring about change and inclusion in our communities, and empower women with disabilities to become leaders of today and tomorrow.

WWDA is a founding member of the INWWD. WWDA's Vice President Sue Salthouse is on a Working Group to finalise the Network Aims and Terms of Reference. WWDA is also charged with the task of establishing a sub-branch of the INWWD in the Asia-Pacific region.

To learn more about the inwwd group, and/or to join to please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/inwwd

6. WWDA Report on the CEDAW Shadow Report Project

Every country that has ratified the treaty must report to the United Nations regularly on what has been done in their country to advance the status of women. Australia must report late this year or early next year. A 'Shadow Report' is put together by non-government organisations to provide greater information over and above the government's report. Often the shadow report provides the United Nations with critical information about the real picture in a particular country.

To put together the shadow report for Australia many organisations, including WWDA, have been working on a project to develop the report. This project will draw on the previous shadow report, the comments from the United Nations to Australia's last report, and the input gained from workshops to be held around the country early in 2009.

The workshops are being planned for the following locations and dates:

• Sydney - 4 February 2009
• Melbourne - 9 February 2009
• Hobart - 11 February 2009
• Brisbane - 16 February 2009
• Townsville - 18 February 2009
• Darwin - 16 February 2009
• Alice Springs - 18 February 2009
• Perth - 23 February 2009
• Broome - 25 February 2009
• Canberra - 23 February 2009
• Adelaide - 2 March 2009
• Broken Hill - 4 March 2009

Partner organisations are being sought to support the logistics in each location. The workshops will take participants through what CEDAW and the international human rights system is, what the comments on the last report were and what they mean, and what has happened (or not happened) in Australia since the last report.

This will form the basis for what is included in the next Shadow Report.

Women with disabilities are being considered at all stages in the workshop development process and it is hoped that we are able to have representatives at all, or most, of the workshops. Further information will be provided as it becomes clear. The YWCA is looking after the funds for this project, and is the employer for the two project workers.

By Christina Ryan, WWDA Rep on CEDAW Shadow Report Project

7. Article: Parents with Intellectual Disabilities - Support Program

It is currently supporting six families, including Elizabeth Vale couple Karen Stacey and Tim Robertson, the proud parents of 16-month-old Krystal. Karen and Tim both have intellectual disabilities. "I wasn't too sure about the Barkuma program at first because I was very shy," Karen says, cuddling Krystal. "Now that I've got to know the staff......I feel like I can talk to them without being shy".

Before becoming involved in the program, just taking Krystal out of the house was a daunting experience for Karen. "Because I'm not like other people, because I have an intellectual disability, I feel like people are going to judge me," she says. SAFE coordinator Margaret Fischer, who works closely with the families involved in the program, says Karen's confidence as a parent continues to increase.

Barkuma Community Support General Manager Terese Edwards says SAFE, the only program of its type in Australia, is vital in keeping families together.

"Parents with learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities were over-represented in child protection services" Ms Edwards says. "There was a group of parents where the neglect was unintentional rater than purposeful in nature".

She says parents with intellectual disabilities are often afraid to ask questions or admit they don't understand something. Almost all live with a constant fear that their children will betaken away. Karen understands this fear. "If I didn't have Barkuma support through this program I feel like I wouldn't have come this far with bubby. Now that I have their support, I have my family's support, I have my fiance's support, I feel like FAYS (Family & Youth Services) wouldn't come into it because I have all the help that I need".

* This article was written by Shannon Caton and appeared in the Southern Times Messenger Newspaper (Nov 5, 2008, pg 22). WWDA thanks the Southern Times Messenger for allowing the article to be reproduced here.

For more information on the Support and Family Education (SAFE) program, contact:
Barkuma Community Support
Ph: 08 8258 0100
Email: bcs@barkuma.com.au
Web: www.barkuma.com.au/community_living_support

8. Report on the Australian Disability and Development Consortium (ADDC) first international conference

The conference was entitled "Disability, Disadvantage and Development in the Pacific and Asia". It was a significant gathering to be hosted in Australia, and demonstrated a commitment for Australia to contribute to dialogue and actions to improve social inclusion in our society and that of other nations in the region. This commitment was demonstrated by the high calibre of the presenters. The welcoming address was given by Graeme Innes, in his capacity as both Australian Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner. The Hon. Bob McMullan, MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, put disability on the development assistance agenda in his opening address. In this, he also took the opportunity to launch the draft Disability Strategy for the Australian Aid program.

The first plenary session of the conference was chaired by the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services. The current situation of disability poverty and exclusion was given by Maria Reina, Executive Director of the Global Partnership on Disability and Development; whilst an overview of the use of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml) was given by Graeme Innes. This set the scene for robust examination of the nature of advocacy both here and in the region.

The importance of addressing poverty was a central theme, with Tewai Halatau, (Co-Chair of the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF)and General Manager, of Vision Pacific Trust (NZ)) outlining the situation for women with disabilities. She emphasized that programs which specifically address the marginalization and poverty of women with disabilities will be needed if we are to develop inclusive societies in the region. The gender equity policy developed by the PDF recognizes that policies affect women and men in different ways and its Action Plan has 3 specific strategic outcomes which are designed to empower women with disabilities. In addition, the PDF has a Women's Committee which monitors all programs and advises on projects for their benefits to women with disabilities.

Cultural differences were examined by many delegates. That disability is a social construct was demonstrated by Damian Griffiths of the Aboriginal Disability Network of NSW, who reported that, in a number of indigenous languages, there was no word for 'disability'.

A central message from the conference was that people with disabilities need to be included at all stages of every facet of the development process, and that their integration in all aspects of society is essential. The importance of the CRPD as a tool for advocacy, and empowerment as well as in the aid and development process was highlighted in many presentations. Tools of similar significance in the region are the Millennium Development Goals (www.undp.org/mdg) and the Biwako Development Framework (www.worldenable.net/bangkok2003/biwako0.htm) formulated at the end of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002).

Since major sources of development funding to the region come from Australian and New Zealand government aid programs, the presentations from AusAID and NZAid were important. Discussion about legislative reform, access to education, the digital divide, gender equality, and the need for collection of gender disaggregated data, were common themes, with different cultures needing to have different approaches to solutions.

In a panel which looked at Inclusion and Gender Equality, WWDA Vice President Sue Salthouse (pictured below) outlined systemic advocacy strategies for influencing policy and program development at government and organizational level. The presence of so many women delegates at the conference presented an opportune time to further develop a regional network, as part of the newly formed Global Network of Women with Disabilities of which WWDA is a founding organization.

9. AusAid Disability & Development Strategy

An estimated 10 per cent of the world's population, or around 650 million people, live with a disability. Of these, about 80 per cent live in developing countries. "Australia is committed to including people with disability in the fight against global poverty and supporting them to improve the quality of their lives," Mr McMullan said. "People with a disability are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries," he said.

The new strategy, 'Development for All', aims to improve quality of life for people with disabilities, strengthen prevention efforts and promote international leadership on disability and development. It also seeks to improve understanding of disability and development across the Asia Pacific region.

"With good leadership, attitudes towards people with disability can change, services can be improved and people's lives can be transformed - not only the lives of the person with a disability, but their families and those around them," Mr McMullan said.

People with a disability face many barriers preventing them from participating in society, and are more likely to be socially excluded. Women and children with disability often face the greatest challenges. The Australian Government recognises that poverty and disability are linked and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach those who are most excluded.

A copy of the AusAid Strategy 'Development for All' is available for download at: www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=380_5862_8393_6637_9010

Alternatively, if you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

10. Better Access to Premises for People with Disabilities

"The Rudd Government's view is that access to public and commercial buildings for all members of our society is critical for achieving social inclusion," Attorney-General Robert McClelland said. "These initiatives will have a positive impact on the daily lives of people with a disability - providing better access to premises such as shops, government offices and hotels. It will make their rights clearer and more certain."

Minister for Innovation Senator Kim Carr said, "Harmonising the access requirements and the Building Code of Australia will not only provide people with a disability with greater access to public buildings but it will provide certainty for the building industry."

The Premises Standards were requested by the building and disability sectors back in 2001. Regrettably, the former Government failed to deliver. In contrast, the Rudd Government has made these a priority, tabling the draft Standards after only 12 months. "Access to premises has been put in the too hard basket for too long," Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services Bill Shorten said. "This is a significant step forward in giving people with disability the opportunity to fully participate in public life."

This work is part of the Rudd Government's long term agenda to achieve better outcomes for people with disability and their families. The Government intends referring the draft Standards to the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for a final public consultation, which will report in the first half of 2009.

The Draft Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2009 and associated documents can be downloaded in Word and/or PDF format from www.ag.gov.au/premisesstandards

Alternatively, if you would like a copy emailed to you, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

11. WWDA Annual Report & Summary Now Available

Over the next few weeks WWDA will be disseminating its Annual Report Summary (pictured below) which gives an overview of WWDA's work during the past year. The full WWDA Annual Report for 2007-08 will be available on WWDA's website shortly in PDF and Word formats, and can be emailed on request.

For more information or to request a copy of either the Annual Report Summary or the full Annual Report, please contact WWDA at wwda@wwda.org.au

12. Resources - Books, Reports, Websites

12.1. New: Universal Human Rights Index

So far, more than 1000 documents have been indexed with each paragraph being classified by country, right, body and affected persons. The user is able to locate observations and recommendations by using these classifications as search criteria or entering keywords.

The information compiled in the UHRI enables users to gain an international perspective on national and regional human rights developments, as well as an overview on cooperation between States and international institutions. It assists Governments and other stakeholders in the implementation of recommendations and facilitates follow up.

Go to: www.universalhumanrightsindex.org

12.2. ACSSA Special Issue: 'Sexual Assault & Adults with a Disability'

The ACSSA Special Issue (No 9): 'Sexual Assault & Adults with a Disability' is available for download on the WWDA website in both PDF and Word formats. Go to: www.wwda.org.au/viol.htm

12.3. International Disability Journal - Free Online

The journal contains research articles, essays, and bibliographies relating to the culture of disability and people with disabilities. It also publishes forums on disability topics brought together by forum editors of international stature. Poetry, short stories, creative essays, photographs, and art work related to disability are also welcome. The journal is published four times a year, and each issue runs approximately 50 pages. The Journal is open to all perspectives, approaches, views, and paradigms relevant to the study and experience of disability.

The Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal (RDS) can be found at: www.rds.hawaii.edu

12.4. New Website: European Commission's 'Academic Network of European Disability experts' (ANED)

The address for the new web site is www.disability-europe.net

12.5. New Resource: 'Claiming Rights, Claiming Justice: A Guidebook on Women Human Rights Defenders'

The guidebook is available in PDF only, from the WWDA website at: www.wwda.org.au/unhrt.htm#res (Women & Human Rights)

12.6. Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD)

For more information go to: http://gpdd-online.org

12.7. UN Report: Asia Pacific Disability Profile

Available from WWDA - email: wwda@wwda.org.au

or alternatively, may be downloaded from: www.unescap.org/esid/psis/publications/index.asp

12.8. Disability Studies Journal - Free Online

Disability Studies Quarterly (DSQ) is now free online and can be found at: http://dsq-sds.org

12.9. Upcoming Book: A Sense of Control: Virtual communities for people with mobility impairments

A Sense of Control: Virtual communities for people with mobility impairments
Dr Christine M. Tilley, Queensland University of Technology

This work develops a theoretical framework for a virtual community for people with long-term, severe mobility disabilities. It proposes strategies for implementing a virtual community model based on user information needs. The central theme to emerge from their narratives is how the use of information and communications technology (ICT) allows them to regain a sense of control. The conclusion is that the technology provides strategies for independence and facilitates self-empowerment. The book draws on the author's wide-ranging experience of ICT and disability, and provides practical and realistic recommendations to real-world problems. This work is aimed at librarians, knowledge managers, researchers and students, as well as the IT community and telecommunications industry.

Publication: January 2009. ISBN 978-1-84334-521-3

You can order this book through: your usual wholesaler, library supplier, bookshop or from the distributor -
Turpin Distribution Services Ltd: Ph: +44 (0)1767 604951
Fax: +44 (0)1767 601640 Email: custserv@turpin-distribution.com

12.10. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Photo Essays

On 25-28 November 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Third World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents seeks global protection policies to prevent the sexual abuse of children. A guiding principle is that silence on this abuse is a form of acceptance. Go to: www.unicef.org/photoessays/46469.html

The life cycle of girls: Womanhood - Photo Essay
Despite advances, gender violence and discrimination are on the rise, according to the 2006 United Nations Secretary-General's report on achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As long as women and girls continue to live in poverty, are denied basic services, equal education, fair wages and decision-making power, global development will be impeded for all. Go to: www.unicef.org/photoessays/39024.html

12.11. WebWatch Launched

"Last month I said publicly that government departments and agencies needed to lift their game in providing equal access to public information for people with disability," said Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes.

In mid September, AHRC welcomed the passage by the Senate of a motion drawing attention to the need for ensuring non-discriminatory access to Parliamentary documents. The Senate agreed to the following motion, put by Tasmania's Senator Stephen Parry at the request of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services, Senator Cory Bernardi:

That the Senate:
(a) notes the difficulties experienced by people with a disability, particularly people with vision impairment, in accessing some formats of Senate documents online; and

(b) calls on the Government and the Department of the Senate to ensure all Hansard and Senate committee documents are made accessible via the Internet to people with a disability as soon as they become public.

The move by Senator Bernardi follows recent concerns expressed by a number of Australians who could not access important documents and sites, such as the Grocery Watch site and the recently released climate change papers.

WebWatch can be accessed at: www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/webaccess/webwatch.htm

12.12. New Book: Dissonant Disabilities

This much-needed collection of original articles invites the reader to examine the key issues in the lives of women with chronic illnesses. The authors explore how society reacts to women with chronic illness and how women living with chronic illness cope with the uncertainty of their bodies in a society that desires certainty. Additionally, issues surrounding women with chronic illness in the workplace and the impact of chronic illness on women's relationships are sensitively considered.

ISBN 0889614644. Published March 2008.

Publisher: Canadian Scholar's Press
Contact: info@cspi.org for further information

13. New on the WWDA Website

Violence (www.wwda.org.au/viol.htm)

Gender & Disability - General (www.wwda.org.au/gendis.htm)

Human Rights Resources (www.wwda.org.au/unhrt.htm#res)

Information Technology & Telecommunications (www.wwda.org.au/infotech.htm)

Non-English Speaking Background & Indigenous Issues (www.wwda.org.au/nesbcon.htm)

Sexuality, Reproductive Health, Reproductive Rights (www.wwda.org.au/sexualit.htm)

Transport (www.wwda.org.au/transpt.htm)

Sterilisation of Women & Girls with Disabilities (www.wwda.org.au/sterilise.htm)

Legal Issues (www.wwda.org.au/legal.htm)

Advocacy (www.wwda.org.au/systemic.htm)

Housing & Accommodation Issues (www.wwda.org.au/housing.htm)

Leadership & Mentoring (www.wwda.org.au/leadmen.htm)

Education, Employment, Income Support, Cost of Disability (www.wwda.org.au/employm.htm)

Conference Papers (www.wwda.org.au/confpaps.htm)

Submissions (www.wwda.org.au/subs.htm)

14. Join WWDA

Remember, becoming a financial member of WWDA entitles you to nominate for the Management Committee when vacancies arise and/or vote at annual elections.

WWDA's Membership Form is available from the WWDA website www.wwda.org.au/member.htm or by contacting WWDA.

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This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities Australia.