WWDA Resource Manual on Violence Against Women With Disabilities (November 2007)
In late November 2007, Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) published its Resource Manual on Violence
Against Women With Disabilities. The Manual is made up of four booklets: A Life Like Mine! - Narratives from
women with disabilities who experience violence; Forgotten Sisters - A global review of violence against women with disabilities;
It's Not Ok It's Violence - Information about domestic violence and women with disabilities; and, More Than Just A Ramp - A guide for women's
refuges to develop disability discrimination act action plans. Audio, e-text & Large Print PDF versions of the Booklets are included on a CD-ROM which
accompanies the Manual. Information on price and how to order a copy of the Manual is provided through the link above.
This report outlines the need for a specifically funded national peak body for women with disabilities in the context of the status of women with disabilities in Australia. This context includes the relative absence of research, data collection and policy development to improve the social and economic status of women with disabilities and the historical neglect of the skills and abilities of women with disabilities by governments, industry and the community as a whole. The purpose of this Report is twofold:
The Report is structured in eight main sections with a number of appendices attached. Section One 'Definitions and Models of Disability' looks at definitions of disability, including those used at international and national levels. It discusses some of the criticisms of disability definitions from the perspective of people with disabilities. This section also examines models of disability. It gives an overview of the traditional bio-medical model of disability as well as the more contemporary social model of disability.
Section Two 'The position of women with disabilities in Australia - a snapshot' briefly outlines the demographic data available that compares women with disabilities with men with disabilities, and women in general in relation to key socio-economic factors.
Section Three 'Major Issues For Women With Disabilities In Australia', comprehensively documents the major social and economic issues confronting women with disabilities based on the most recent data and research literature available.
Section Four 'The Exclusion of Women with Disabilities from the Disability and Women's Movement,' summarises Australian and international critiques of why women with disabilities have been excluded by both the movement for the advancement of women and the movement for the advancement of people with disabilities.
Section Five 'The Need for a National Peak Body for Women with Disabilities' explores the role of peak bodies, the importance of peak bodies in a democratic society; the need for a specific peak body for women with disabilities, and the specific and unique functions of a national peak body for women with disabilities.
Section Six 'About Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)' provides an overview of WWDA, the current national peak body for women with all types of disabilities in Australia. It provides information on WWDA's aims and objectives, management, membership, policy and program areas and more.
Section Seven 'Major Achievements of WWDA' summarises some of the key achievements of the organisation in the past 5 years.
Section Eight 'WWDA Strategic Directions - Advancing the Position of Women With Disabilities in Australia'
provides information on WWDA's key goals and strategies to achieve these goals. The information provided in this
section is summarised from WWDA's 'Strategic & Business Plan 1998-2002', which contains more detailed strategies,
targets, timelines, outcomes, and indicators of performance. Several appendices are included in the Report. Price: $25.00 within Australia. $30.00 overseas orders.
Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) has published a comprehensive report from the National Project on Sterilisation and Reproductive Health of Women and Girls with Disabilities. "Moving Forward" - Sterilisation and Reproductive Health Of Women and Girls with Disabilities, is the culmination of a National Project conducted by Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) during 2001.
The report provides a context for the discussion of sterilisation and reproductive health of women and girls with disabilities. It:
"Moving Forward" gives a voice to the many women who have experienced sterilisation against their
will and who have been denied their right to reproductive choice and parenting. The report reflects the
experiences and perspectives of women and girls with disabilities in reporting on the National Forum on
Sterilisation and Reproductive Health for Women and Girls with Disabilities held in Sydney in February 2001.
It also contains the proceedings of the Sterilisation and Reproductive Health Special Interest Group, which
was convened by WWDA at the Disability With Attitude International Conference (Sydney 2001). The report
contains a thought provoking paper by Professor Adrienne Asch (USA) entitled "Sterilisation, Reproduction
and Parenthood for Women and Girls With Disabilities". This paper advocates new ways of thinking about
sterilisation, reproduction and parenting for women and girls with disabilities. The Report discusses issues
of advocacy, policy, and practice for service providers, academics and people with
disabilities. "Moving Forward" also outlines WWDA's recommendations in seven key areas aimed
at redressing the past and creating a coordinated and consultative process for progressing the issue
into the future in a way that holds the human rights of women and girls with disabilities as paramount. Price: $55.00 waged; $25.00 unwaged
ISBN: 0958526931
Published 2000; 135 pages.
Each and every person has a unique life experience. Here we have a collection of stories of girls and women who deal with disability in extraordinary ways. Courage and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds have resulted in lives encompassing value, creativity success and happiness. Experiences, some spanning many years, are described with laconic humour and Australian understatement. This is our heritage for others to build on.
Price: $15.40 waged; $9.90 unwaged
ISBN: 0 958526974
Published 2000; 280 pages
In 1998, Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) received funding from the Global Fund for Women (USA) to develop a Leadership and Mentoring Kit for Women With Disabilities. The Leadership and Mentoring Kit for Women With Disabilities is structured in eight sections. A Resources component is included at the end of each section. The Resources information includes further readings relating to the particular section, Internet sites and more. Section One of the Kit provides an overview and background to the Kit. It provides information about Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), as well as a background to the development of the Kit. Section Two focuses on Leadership. It looks at the difference between traditional models of leadership and women's leadership. It provides information about leadership for women with disabilities, including practical examples. It also looks at research that has been done around leadership and women with disabilities. Section Three is devoted to Mentoring. We look at why women with disabilities can benefit from a mentoring program, as well as the different styles of mentoring. Both the Mentor and Mentoree Roles are discussed in detail. The section also looks at areas of further development the Mentor & Mentoree may like to consider - these areas include: self-esteem; assertiveness and public speaking. Section Four of the Kit provides a wide range of information about groups, including how to go about forming a group; group management models; getting a group to work together; and formalising a group. Information is also provided on bookkeeping for groups; publicity and lobbying techniques; and how to keep your group going. Section Five addresses the issue of funding for community groups and organisations. It looks at the different sources of funding such as donations, sponsorship, fundraising, and grants; and includes details on how to apply for funding. The Resources Component at the end of this section provides useful information and contacts for groups seeking funding. Section Six of the Kit focuses specifically on issues facing women with disabilities. We look at areas which we believe require more action in Australia by women with disabilities. Some of these areas include: reproductive rights and reproductive technologies; violence and abuse; attitudes and prejudices; employment; and many more. The Resources Component at the end of this section provides a wide range of information for women with disabilities, including relevant Internet sites; further readings; and a listing of electronic mailing lists for women with disabilities. Section Seven provides more information about Women With Disabilities, including membership information and details of WWDA publications and resources. Section Eight lists the References and a bibliography of materials used to assist in the development of the Kit. An Evaluation Sheet has been included at the end of the Kit.
Price: $82.50 waged; $44.00 unwaged
Published 1999; 100 pages.
ISBN: 0958526915
In 1998, Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) conducted a National Violence Against Women With Disabilities Workshop. The need for this workshop had come about in response to the expressed needs of women with disabilities in Australia, as well as the apparent lack of research and other work in Australia on the issue of violence against women with disabilities. The Workshop was the first of its kind in Australia and was unique in that it was planned, organised, attended and run by, women with disabilities. The National Women With Disabilities and Violence Workshop saw representatives from a range of sectors work collaboratively with women with disabilities to develop strategies to combat violence against women with disabilities. This report documents the proceedings of the National Women With Disabilities and Violence Workshop. It contains a wide range of information including: background and context information; articles on the intersection of gender, disability and violence; papers presented at the Workshop by women with disabilities on the issue of violence; details on work occurring in Australia on domestic violence generally as well as specific work on the issue of violence against women with disabilities; issues and problems identified by workshop participants requiring action; detailed strategies to address areas such as: Education; Research; Information; Social Action; Networking; Service and Program Planning and Delivery; and, resource information, including Internet sites dealing with the issue of violence against women with disabilities.
Price: $16.50
In early 1999, Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) undertook a survey of its members to identify their experiences of, and concerns relating to telecommunications. There has been a groundswell of opinion and research highlighting the potential for telecommunications to improve living standards for women. However, none of this research has included the experiences and needs of women with disabilities in relation to telecommunications. Anecdotal evidence collected by WWDA indicates that access to telecommunications is a major area of inequity for women with disabilities. The Telecommunications Survey undertaken by WWDA was framed within a philosophy of disability rights and the social model of disability. It was not a 'needs based' survey, but rather came from a context of rights, which affirms that telecommunications should be available to all, and this includes women with disabilities. This Report details the findings of the national survey. It includes information about gender and disability; women with disabilities and telecommunications; as well as the study context and methodologies. The survey findings are presented in both quantitative and qualitative ways, and the major findings are analysed and discussed.
Price: $18.70
Published 1997
This report identifies and describes some health and well-being experiences reported by over one hundred and forty women with physical disabilities who participated in a research study conducted by the Victorian Women With Disabilities Network in 1996. The study was based on principles of participation and inclusion and aimed to remain faithful to the issues raised by respondents. The report details: project methodologies and profile of participants; perceptions of health by women with disabilities; factors influencing well-being; use of health services by women with disabilities; health promotion target areas; community facilities and supports. Recommendations are included in the report.
Price: $11.00
If you would like to order any of these publications, please go to the Order Form.
This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities Australia.