Home > Current Projects > Books in Progress > A Health handbook for women with disabilities

A Health handbook for women with disabilities

Hesperian's A Health handbook for women with disabilities will provide critical health information for disabled women, along with addressing social attitudes that pose challenges for disabled women's health and wellness.

Designed for women with disabilities, their families and friends, as well as for health workers, the Health handbook will provide a candid discussion of the health and medical needs of disabled women. It will describe innovative adaptations that help women with disabilities play a more active role in family and community life, and share strategies disabled women and their allies have developed to make communities more inclusive and to access health care.

The Health handbook will provide vital information using easy-to-read, empowering language, along with abundant illustrations and examples from around the world of how disabled women and their allies have organized for change. Instead of focusing on a single disability, Hesperian's manual will address a broad range of health issues including:

• Basic health care challenges for women with disabilities and self-health for acute health problems associated with disabilities
• Sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, child-birth and parenting
• Violence against women with disabilities
• Self-esteem and empowerment, including adaptations and aids which can improve accessibility and mobility

Women with disabilities were involved in every aspect of the manual's development. We also worked closely with a global community of grassroots groups who enthusiastically agreed to review and critique draft chapters. For a partial list of the organizations working with Hesperian to help us develop this ground breaking material, download the List of Collaborators (PDF). This high level of collaboration ensures that the final book will be relevant, culturally appropriate and reflective of the lives and needs of disabled women around the world.

We are currently finalizing the manuscript of A Health handbook for women with disabilities, with an anticipated release in November 2006.

Related Materials

• Women's health exchange focusing on health issues for women with disabilities.
• List of Collaborators

Donate now!

We depend on the support of people like you, who share our vision of a healthier and more just world. Your gift will enable this book to be developed and distributed to communities around the world that otherwise could not afford it. Your actions make a difference. Please give online or call Khanh Pham at (510) 845-1447 to make a donation over the phone.