Including young women and girls with disabilities means more than just removing obstacles or barriers. It is crucial to provide key enablers of inclusion. This involves working with the young women and girls with disabilities to identify ways in which the environment (physical and otherwise) can be improved or modified to ensure they feel safe, comfortable, included, and can meaningfully participate.
In addition to gender-based barriers, women and girls with disabilities face additional disability-related barriers that can deepen the extent of their exclusion, especially those with more marginalised backgrounds. For example, young women and girls with disabilities are often left out of programmes due to:
- Physically inaccessible facilities, venues and equipment
- Gender- & disability-related misconceptions about capabilities
- Unwelcoming attitudes by other participants, staff, coaches and general public
- Lack of knowledge on how to adapt coaching and activities to meet diverse needs
Sports can be a space for women and girls with disabilities to build support and social networks and develop more independence. Being involved in a sports programme can also increase the visibility of women and girls with disabilities, helping to combat harmful stereotypes and stigmas. It provides a pathway for them to become community leaders, addressing the lack of visible role models for young women and girls with disabilities and improving aspirations and self & community perceptions.
Activity