Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) has just launched its brand new website – ‘Our Place’. The new site provides practical resources and information, as well as showcases real stories from women with disability. It was made by and for women and girls with disability and covers important topics, such as your rights, sexual health, money, taking part in politics, safety and discrimination.
The site was launched in time for International Women’s Day and is a wonderful way to celebrate women and their achievements. We were thrilled to take part in this project and provide Easy Read conversions of this important content. The Easy Read version will empower more woman with disability to better understand the Our Place website and learn about their rights, whatever their literacy level is.
Over 2 million women and girls with disability in Australia
There are currently over two million women and girls with disability in Australia and they make up one of the most marginalised and excluded groups in the country. They experience widespread discrimination and violations of their rights and freedoms.
WWDA CEO, Carolyn Frohmader, says that the views and choices of women with disability: “can go unheard and their decisions are often made by others. Limited opportunities for participation in all areas of life contributes to a lack of awareness of their rights as equal members of society and reinforces negative stereotypes and discriminatory practices. Our Place recognises and reflects that developing a sense of personal worth, autonomy and agency for women and girls with disability is fundamental to advancing their rights.”
Our Place shows what active and meaningful participation of women and girls with disability can look like. Over 100 women and girls with disability around Australia helped to create the innovative new website.
The website also includes real stories from over 40 women with disability from different backgrounds and situations across Australia. The stories cover personal experiences with everything from success in sports and the arts to violence, parenting and racial discrimination.
“Including the real stories section on the Our Place website,” said Ms Frohmader, “allows women and girls with disability to relate and connect to others who have had similar experiences or violations. It also enables the formation of personal and collective identities, creating a sense of solidarity, purpose and shared strength.”
Visit the Our Place website to find out more about this wonderful resource and to find the Easy Read version of the content.
