Working for change 21
Early assistance
In their first years of life, all children will learn more physical, mental,
communication, and social skills and learn them more quickly and easily than at
any other time in their lives. Since a baby starts learning as soon as she is born,
it is important that families begin giving extra attention to help children with
disabilities as soon as possible.
This is important because each new skill a child learns builds on the skills she
already has. Each new skill also makes it possible for her to learn other, more
difficult skills. So when a child does not learn a skill, she cannot learn other skills
that depend on it.
Start a support group for parents of disabled children
Women with disabled children are often deserted by their partners and have to bring
up their children by themselves. Parent support groups can help. Adult women with
disabilities can offer advice on the types of concerns that girls with disabilities will
face as they are growing. This can help their mothers support them better.
You can also start a support group for teenage girls with disabilities so they can
help and support each other.
What communities can do
Community groups can help
government, health workers,
teachers, community-based
rehabilitation workers, and
community leaders learn about
When health workers, teachers,
community leaders, our families,
and neighbors change their
attitude to disability, we can
do our work, have strong
relationships, and make our
communities rich and strong.
disability issues. They can also
make the public aware through
street plays, discussions, and
in other ways that women with disabilities have the same rights to education,
health care and transportation as non-disabled people. Communities can create
employment opportunities and give information about services for women with
disabilities.
Girls and women with disabilities become confident, believe in themselves,
and grow to their full potential when parents and families love and accept them,
and when they can get education, jobs, and health care. All community resources,
such as schools, banks, religious places, hospitals, and clinics must also become
accessible for everyone.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007