Women with Disabilities and Development
About Our Women's Programs
One of MIUSA’s unique attributes is that we naturally work with a gender lens. Empowerment of women is integral to who we are and what we do. Our hands-on grassroots projects have empowered more than 2,000 women with disabilities from over 100 countries.
In 1995, MIUSA initiated the first international symposium on issues of women with disabilities at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. During this symposium women recognized and expressed the need for more leadership programs specifically for women with disabilities. Since that time, MIUSA has acknowledged this request by uniting women leaders with disabilities from every region of the world.
MIUSA works for empowerment, equal opportunities and human rights for women and girls with disabilities around the world. MIUSA's projects focus on infusing the perspectives of women with disabilities into international women's movements and development agendas.
Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD)
Our signature women’s program is the Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD). WILD brings together new and emerging grassroots women leaders with disabilities from around the world to build skills, exchange experiences and strategies, create new visions and strengthen international networks of support. Through a series of intensive workshops, women move forward in their personal and professional roles as disabled world leaders.
Workshops focus on:
- Using the media,
- Implementing policy and legislation,
- Writing proposals,
- Fundraising,
- Networking with international allies,
- Improving employment and educational opportunities, and
- Advocating for accessible healthcare.
An innovative component of the WILD program is the Gender, Disability and Development Institute (GDDI). WILD Delegates meet with international development agency representatives from organizations such as the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), Trickle Up, the Global Fund for Women, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Mercy Corps. Delegates and agency representatives plan for future collaboration and exchange strategies for inclusion of women with disabilities in development projects.
These “WILD Women” truly are changing the world as they return to their countries with new tools and a commitment to address issues of critical importance to women and girls with disabilities. MIUSA has hosted women’s leadership programs in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2008.
For more information about WILD, please visit the WILD web page to learn about upcoming programs or contact womenleaders@miusa.org.
Be involved
Internship opportunities: Women with disabilities who are U.S. citizens and who would like to be involved in these exciting programs are encouraged to apply for a MIUSA internship. Click here for more information about MIUSA internships or volunteer opportunities.
Make a donation!
Videos
Loud, Proud and Passionate!®
Loud, Proud and Passionate® captures the essence of MIUSA’s unique programs led by and for women with disabilities. Loud, Proud and Passionate® documents the 2003 WILD program. MIUSA has developed a strong network of women with disabilities and their allies around the world working for the rights of disabled women at grassroots, national, and regional levels. Open-captioned and available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, French. Order the video!
Loud, Proud and Prosperous!®
The majority of the world's 300 million women with disabilities have little chance to achieve economic security. Through the Loud, Proud and Prosperous® program, MIUSA worked with women with disabilities in Southern Africa to create and document new opportunities to participate successfully in community micro credit and micro enterprise projects. Open-captioned and available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic. Order the video!
Books and Other Resources
Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities - Hesperian’s new publication
Women Who Light the Dark - by Paola Gianturco (featuring WILD 2006)
