International Women's Day - Celebrating women with disabilities
Today, March 8, marks an important day for women around the world: International Women’s Day. At Humanity & Inclusion, we celebrate all of the courageous women who have worked so hard to achieve their dreams, especially those with disabilities. We recognize the exceptional achievements of working women with disabilities, acknowledging the additional challenges that they overcome and the significant contributions they make in their communities.
Jacques and his mother Jeanne | © R. Colfs/HI
Access to paid work
Men and women with disabilities do not have the same opportunities for waged employment as people without disabilities. When people with disabilities find work, they are often paid less than their counterparts without disabilities. According to Humanity & Inclusion's 2016 white paper on wage employment, “Women with disabilities face an additional layer of discrimination because of their gender, and correspondingly have even fewer opportunities to engage in work. As a result, women with disabilities are more likely to be poor, excluded, and unemployed than men with disabilities.”
Bridging the gap
Humanity & Inclusion is working to redress these injustices. Our rehabilitation services help women who are injured in natural disaster or conflict, regain independence and strength needed to carry out a job. Our specialized inclusive employment projects work closely with local employers to confront real and perceived barriers to employment, giving more women with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy fair, waged employment. We also provide personalized training to help women with disabilities gain the skills and confidence needed to reach their own professional goals.
