Improve the quality of life, opportunities and choices for women experiencing disability.

Key steps:

• Provide more effective support for women experiencing disability, including: promoting their rights; increasing access to women’s and other services; dealing with abuse, and supporting their choices.
• Focus on issues and choices faced by women experiencing disability especially parenting and caring responsibilities, sexual health and sterilisation.

"After having my baby and returning to the ward, people reacted to me really differently. Some people were very supportive. Others assumed that I was just a visitor from another ward or were amazed that I had actually been able to have my own baby. Some mothers I talked to even overheard comments like, "I think it’s disgusting, letting them have babies."

Once I got home with my baby people would gaze into the pram and show surprise that my baby was "normal". I was inundated with the standard "Oh, however do you manage?", I got used to it and replied, "Just like any mother ... except I wheel instead of walk between chores."

Personally I would recommend motherhood and I have no qualms about encouraging others to give it a go if it is what they want. Our disabilities are a fact of life and unless there's a health risk they must not be the deciding factor in our decision-making."

Sandie

Questionv

26. How can more support be given to women experiencing disability?