In a recent survey distributed to alumni across the globe, WILD women shared the actions they’ve taken since WILD towards improving their own personal health, as well improving the mental and physical health of other women with disabilities in their communities. Following is a list documenting these impactful actions.
Trained Women and Girls with Disabilities
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
- Conducted programs on sexual and reproductive health rights for women with disabilities. (Nepal)
- Conducted training for women with disabilities on sexual and reproductive health, including guidance on where to access services and referrals to appropriate healthcare centers. (Nepal)
- Conducted workshops on health rights for women with disabilities, and training on issues such as reproductive health and mental well-being. (Sri Lanka)
- Conducted trainings on sexual and reproductive health rights to women with disabilities. (Myanmar)
- Connected women with disabilities to resources for sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence services and legal assistance. (Ethiopia)
- Conducted training workshop for Deaf women on sexual and reproductive health rights. (Philippines)
Self-Defense and Self-Care
- Conducted self-defense workshops for women with disabilities in rural areas. (Costa Rica)
- Created workshops on self-defense, leadership, health and sexuality for women with disabilities in rural areas. (Costa Rica)
- Incorporated education about how we can have a healthier life, and offered dance and swimming activities, for women with disabilities. (Costa Rica)
- [In my role working for a foundation] funded projects on self-care and sexual and reproductive health rights for women with disabilities. (Ethiopia)
- Implemented ongoing programs for women and girls with disabilities on self-care, self-defense, sexual health and health lifestyle skills. (Armenia)
Mental Health Support
- Counselled visually impaired women on mental health issues. (Nepal)
- During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, in post-conflict situations and refugee camps, provided online and telephone counseling and mental health trainings and support services to women with disabilities experiencing stress and distress. (Myanmar)
- Organized community workshops on stress management and self-care, equipping women with disabilities with practical tools to enhance their mental well-being. (Malaysia)
- Trained 40 women with disabilities to conduct community education on mental health and disability in schools and communities. (Kenya)
- Became a mental health trainer and mentor for women and girls with disabilities. Trained 100 women and girls with disabilities on mental health and sexual and reproductive health rights. (Kenya)
- Incorporated mental health workshops, self-care practices and stress management techniques into programs for women with disabilities. (Malaysia)
Self-Advocacy and Preventative Care
- Trained women with disabilities on self-advocacy to take charge of their health. (Sri Lanka)
- Conducted community meetings and workshops for women with disabilities about simple actions to safeguard health, including the need for rest. (Nigeria)
- Through community outreach, provided women with disabilities with information about their health rights, available services, and self-advocacy techniques. This has empowered them to demand better care and take charge of their health. (Malaysia)
- Conducted workshops and trainings for women with disabilities on advocacy for inclusive healthcare services, reproductive health, and importance of regular health screenings and promoting accessibility of healthcare facilities. (Sri Lanka)
- Implemented health rights initiative focused on raising breast cancer awareness among women with disabilities, and offered education and free testing. (Malawi)
- Instructed Deaf women in provincial health center how to contact online sign language interpreters for doctor visits. (Mongolia)
Provide Disability-led Support
- Created a peer support network of women with disabilities to reduce trauma and isolation, improve mental health. (Nepal)
- Established peer support groups for women with disabilities to foster metal and emotional well-being. (Sri Lanka)
- Introduced peer counseling programs for women with disabilities. (Sri Lanka)
- Provided peer support for spinal cord injury survivors in community and rehabilitation hospital. (Malawi)
Collaborated with Healthcare Professionals and Stakeholders
Provided Training to Professionals
- Organized training courses with professional health workers on appropriate nursing care and guidelines on gender-based violence for women with disabilities. (Vietnam)
- Trained health professionals on gynecological care for women with physical, visual and hearing disabilities. (Panama)
- Trained nurses and social workers on how to provide services to women and girls with disabilities. (Kenya)
- Conducted online training for FHI 360 staff in Malawi on ensuring access to health and inclusive health systems. (Malawi)
- Conducted education for healthcare providers on specific health needs of women with disabilities and to reduce provider biases. (Ethiopia)
- Created video for Ministry of Health regarding challenges women with disabilities face when seeking health services. Ministry of Health now has a women and girls with disabilities thematic group. (Kenya)
Improved Accessibility of Facilities and Services
- Partnered with local health institutions to make facilities more inclusive and accessible. (Sri Lanka)
- Engaged with health authorities to ensure their services accommodate women with disabilities. (Sri Lanka)
- Collaborated with local health centers to implement ramps, signage and disability sensitive waiting areas. (Philippines)
- Collaborated with local organizations and government bodies to make affordable health care accessible and inclusive, leading to increased early detection and treatment of health issues among participants. (Malaysia)
- Partnered with a family planning NGO to provide accessible medical exams for women with disabilities from different regions. (Panama)
- Worked with government and NGOs to introduce mobile clinics that serve women with disabilities in rural areas. (Philippines)
- Engaged with mental health practitioners to adopt more inclusive approaches to better serve women with disabilities. (Turkey)
Implemented Inclusive Preventative Screenings
- Collaborated with doctors and health professionals to provide reproductive health screenings and examinations tailored to over 300 Deaf Women across the country. (Mongolia)
- Coordinated with health center to accommodate Deaf women to have Pap smear and breast cancer screening free of charge. (Philippines)
- Gather Deaf women every October for Breast Cancer activities in partnership with city government to ensure access to all health care. (Philippines)
Other Partnerships
- Worked with public health agencies to include women with disabilities in campaigns on menstrual health. (Mexico)
- Worked with doctors to consider disability perspective in clinics. (Mexico)
- Strengthened partnerships between women with disabilities and local organizations, thus increasing access to health services and outreach efforts. (Ethiopia)
- I [was introduced by MIUSA] to [a development organization], and now we are in year 3 of our project implementation, taking one step at a time, toward a more equitable future. (Philippines)
Conducted Advocacy Campaigns
- Advocated for accessible health services and inclusive policies and to address specific health needs of women with disabilities at the national level. (Armenia)
- Advocated for accessible healthcare services in local communities. (Sri Lanka)
- Launched initiatives to advocate for disability-inclusive health policies and accessible healthcare facilities. (Sri Lanka)
- Advocating for inclusion of disability perspectives in national health strategies. (Sri Lanka)
- Advocacy with policymakers and healthcare providers, which has led to tangible improvements in health and well-being of women with disabilities in my community and country. (Sri Lanka)
- Advocated for sign language in medical offices. (Mexico)
- Conducted initiatives to promote inclusion and accessibility in mental health and reproductive rights services. (Brazil)
- Advocated for policy changes to require disability sensitivity training for health care providers. (Philippines)
- I used knowledge from WILD workshops to advocate for accessible healthcare facilities. This led to installation of ramps, provision of assistive devices, and inclusion of disability-focused services in local clinics. (Philippines)
- Led DPO coalition in successful advocacy campaign to ensure that national government health policy included disability-friendly safe motherhood and reproductive services were included in national government health policy. (Nepal)
- Advocated for inclusion of women with disabilities in self-defense course which had previously excluded women with disabilities. Women with disabilities showed the coach accommodations to make the course accessible, and women with disabilities successfully participated. (Nepal)
- Produced a podcast on accommodations for accessible health care services, and the importance of mental health support for women with disabilities (Moldova).
- Successfully advocated for sign language interpretation and accessible format materials in healthcare settings. (Nigeria)
- Advocated for dedicated WC accessible gynecology exam tables; as a result, one bed was supplied to each provincial hospital. (Nigeria)
- Successfully advocated for sign language interpreters and gender and disability desks in hospitals. (Kenya)
- Conducted successful advocacy for district health plans to integrate disability inclusive services. (Malawi)
Other Actions
Mental Health Support
- Became certified psychosocial counsellor to address mental health challenges of women with disabilities. (Nepal)
- Established and providing free online and telephone psychological care services, actions to address mental and menstrual health in an intersectional way. (Mexico)
- Created Psychological Care Unit to provide mental health care to women with disabilities (virtual, phone, at home or in clinic) including a specialized protocol for women with disabilities, in line with human rights guidelines. (El Salvador)
Improving Accessibility of Services
- Trained media to make public health messages on communicable diseases and sexual reproductive health accessible to women with disabilities. (Zambia)
- Conducted projects to inform both women with disabilities and service providers about how to make sexual and reproductive health services accessible. (Turkey)
- Implemented free sign language interpretation for Deaf women and accessible care to blind women in sexual and reproductive health care clinics. (Panama)
Personal Health Impacts
Improved Physical Health
- Achieved better physical health through participation in adaptive sports or wellness activities. (Sri Lanka)
- I engaged in physical exercises and activities tailored for women with disabilities, which motivated me to adopt a more active lifestyle. This not only improved my physical health but also boosted my overall well-being. (Sri Lanka)
- As for my physical health, WILD instilled in me the desire to exercise, especially the advice that the instructors gave me when I visited the gym. I understood that through physical exercise I can achieve a healthier life physically and mentally. (Costa Rica)
- Since returning, I have adopted an active lifestyle and started swimming regularly, which has greatly improved my mental health and physical fitness. I began to see myself as an expert rather than a victim or a burden, which has positively influenced my outlook on life and my willingness to engage in activities such as dancing, hiking, and jogging. These were activities I previously hesitated to pursue. (Ethiopia)
- I’m more aware of the importance of self-care, physical and mental health. I take care of myself. I make more activities to take care about mental health for me and my family. For example, I do exercises and go for a walk after work. (Peru)
- Furthermore, the knowledge and tools I gained from MIUSA’s work helped me adopt healthier habits, prioritize self-care, and advocate for my own health needs. The physical activities and discussions on health during the program inspired me to focus on my well-being in a holistic manner, balancing both physical and mental health. (Myanmar)
- I did yoga for the first time [during WILD] and from there I approached meditations and similar practices to regulate my emotions. (Panama)
Improved Mental Health
- My work with MIUSA inspired me to focus more on self-care and to take proactive steps in my own health management. I adopted healthier lifestyle choices and have learned to balance my demanding work schedule with taking care of my physical and mental health. The support, community, and mentorship I gained through WILD helped me build resilience. (Armenia)
- I found my own worth, strong mental health and dared to stand up for myself and my fellow countrymen. (Vietnam)
- Gained emotional resilience through mentorship and peer interactions in WILD/MIUSA programs. (Sri Lanka)
- Improved self-care routines inspired by training sessions on mental health awareness. (Sri Lanka)
- The program taught me the importance of advocating for health and well-being, both for myself and others. As a result, I began prioritizing my own health and understanding the need for self-care. (Mongolia)
- The training and ongoing support from MIUSA have boosted my confidence, enabling me to face challenges with resilience. This newfound strength has reduced stress and enhanced my overall mental well-being. (Nepal)
- Being part of a global community of women with disabilities allowed me to share experiences, challenges, and strategies, which helped me feel less isolated and more connected to a larger movement for inclusion and rights. (Sri Lanka)
- On a mental level, with each workshop, with each visit and empowerment activity, my perception changed, I became a powerful woman and that was a word that was hard for me to say. (Costa Rica)
- WILD emphasized the importance of personal well-being as a foundation of leadership. This shift in mindset encouraged me to prioritize my mental and physical health, viewing it not as pleasure but as a necessity for sustained impact. (Philippines)
- The WILD & MIUSA program has also provided me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which has boosted my self-esteem and confidence. I feel empowered to take control of my own health and well-being, and to advocate for the health and well-being of other women and girls with disabilities. (Nigeria)
- This experience reduced feelings of isolation and empowered me to approach challenges with a fresh perspective, improving my mental health significantly. (Malawi)
- [After WILD], I know how to control my emotions and recognize when my health causes issues to have intervention immediately to reduce those symptoms and find suitable methods for that such as doing exercises, talking to my friends, swimming, etc. (Vietnam)
- WILD has reinforced my self-confidence and I learned to love and accept myself. (Mauritius)
Read more personal stories of WILD alumni impact on women’s health in the ‘Related Resources’ section.
Visit the MIUSA blog to read more on Improving Health Care for Disabled Women – and for All Women
