Gender and Disability: A Survey of InterAction Member Agencies

Project Coordinator: Tina L. Singleton

Authors: Tina L. Singleton, Mary Lou Breslin, and Cindy Lewis

Publisher: Mobility International USA

Copyright: Mobility International USA

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MIUSA has conducted a groundbreaking survey documenting the extent to which people with disabilities participate in the international development efforts of private relief, development and refugee agencies. Particular emphasis was placed on the participation on women and girls with disabilities in these agencies. MIUSA received a grant from USAID’s Office of Women in Development to conduct this survey among InterAction member organizations. InterAction is a coalition of over 160 US-based development, relief, refugee and policy-oriented agencies. By participating in the survey, InterAction members have taken a positive step toward integrating the disability perspective into the international development dialogue.

The survey project consisted of two components: telephone interviews with member-agency upper management and a mail-in organization questionnaire. Brief telephone interviews were conducted with 77 CEOs, presidents or executive directors. MIUSA received completed questionnaires from 75 member-agencies. In total, over 100 InterAction member agencies agreed to participate in the project. Three of these agencies, Mercy Corps International, Heifer Project International, and Childreach, participated as in-depth assessment organizations. In addition to completing organization questionnaires, these in-depth assessments involved visits by MIUSA staff to headquarter offices, staff interviews, and an evaluation of office accessibility.

The InterAction community will obtain valuable information from the survey results: concrete strategies and recommendations regarding the current involvement of people with disabilities within their organizations, an increased understanding of factors that impact inclusion, knowledge of current strategies and "best practices" from their peers, and an increased awareness of the particular issues affecting the inclusion of people with disabilities. MIUSA will disseminate findings, "best practices" and recommendations for practical interventions to InterAction member agencies, development assistance organizations, disability organizations and international women’s organizations.

MIUSA hopes this survey will help build a much-needed bridge between the US humanitarian assistance community and people with disabilities working internationally for equal opportunities and human rights.

Thank You InterAction Participants!

MIUSA would like to extend its thanks to the InterAction member agencies that agreed to participate in the survey. Their contribution was crucial to the success of this project and MIUSA appreciates the time and effort of the agencies that completed organization surveys and of the CEOs, executive directors and presidents who completed telephone interviews.

Thank You InterAction Assessment Agencies!

MIUSA extends a special thanks to the assessment agencies, Mercy Corps International, Heifer Project International and Childreach. Their willingness to have an in-depth assessment provided both MIUSA and these agencies an opportunity to share model practices regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities and to explore creative new possibilities for partnerships.

Download the Report  (PDF)