Women With Disabilities

The 2003 Disability, Ageing and Carers survey (ABS) reported that 16.9 per cent of women in the ACT had a disability, and 6 per cent of these were disabilities that resulted in a profound or severe core activity limitation. While the ACT had the lowest rate of women with the disability compared to other Australian States and Territories, these women still make up a significant proportion of our community.
 
Women with a disability are at risk of social exclusion and marginalisation for a variety reasons. They usually have significantly lower incomes that their non-disabled counterparts, they often have poorer social connections with families and friends, and they face numerous barriers in accessing social and other services such as transport, education, employment and recreational opportunities.

Current WCHM Projects

Well, Able and Mobile (WAM)

There is a well documented need for women with disabilities to have support in order to access fitness activities in their community, to increase their general fitness and well-being in a sustained way, and reduce their dependence on the health and community support systems. These issues were highlighted in a 2006 the Senate Inquiry into women’s involvement in sport and recreation in Australia.

In 2005 a pilot project, 'Well and Able', was undertaken by Women’s Centre for Health Matters Inc (WCHM), in partnership with YMCA and Women With Disabilities ACT (WWDACT). This project provided 17 women with disabilities with a structured exercise and social program to increase fitness, confidence and social inclusion. Project participants reported notable changes in their health and well-being, reported fewer falls and injuries, increased self confidence and reduced social isolation. In September 2007 WCHM consulted with women from the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (MHCN) about needs for women with mental health issues currently not being met. One of the key issues raised was the lack of appropriate fitness options for this group of women.

In 2008, the above project partners received funding from the ACT Health Promotion Grants program to continue the Well, Able and Mobile (WAM) program. WAM supports women with disabilities (including women with mental health issues) to become involved in a range of health and fitness activities, leading to improvements in their skills, confidence and overall health and wellbeing. The WAM program has been very successful and it is hoped that the WAM will receive future funding to run on an ongoing basis.

Women with Disabilities and Domestic Violence Project

Research shows us that women with disabilities are more likely to experience domestic violence that women in the broader community, yet the number of women with disabilities accessing crisis services remains low.

In 2008, the Women’s Centre for Health Matters received funding from WESNET to undertake a project examining the barriers that women with disabilities face in accessing domestic violence services in the ACT.

Using this funding, WCHM employed a full-time project worker who, along with a group of three women with disabilities, is carrying out accessibility ‘audits’ of domestic violence crisis services in the ACT. These audits are not just about physical accessibility, but also examine things like staff attitudes, policies and procedures. Based on the outcome of these audits, the WCHM project worker will work with each service to increase their accessibility to women with disabilities.

This project was carried out in collaboration with Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) and Domestic Violence Crisis Services (DVCS) Canberra and is governed by a steering committee. Members of the steering committee are:

More information about domestic violence and women with disabilities is available on the Women With Disabilities Australia website.

Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Consortium

Poor transport opportunities for women with disabilities have been acknowledged as a contributor to social isolation. WCHM is currently providing support to a group of women who are seeking to increase the number of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis available in the ACT Region.