Working for change 47
Step 4. Visit a health center
After the group has identified some
general barriers to good health care
access, they can visit local health
centers to take a closer look at things
that can cause problems for a woman
with a disability. Divide the group
into 2, if there are enough people,
A group will be taken more
seriously than an individual.
Decide ahead of time who
will speak for the group
and what that person will
say. You may need to get
permission ahead of time to
make your visit.
with at least one health worker in each
group, and visit one or more health
centers. (If possible, do not send a group to visit a health center where the health
workers in that group work.) Ask 1 or 2 women in the group to write down or make
note of any problems and obstacles they find. Also ask them to note anything they
find that is helpful for women with disabilities.
The trip to the health center can also be used as an example of how women
can help each other and work together to use each other’s strengths to overcome
problems. For example, wheelchair riders can guide blind women, and blind
women can support women who need help with walking.
Step 5. What did you find at the health center?
When you return from the visits, have each group describe the problems they found
and things that were helpful to women with disabilities. Also ask each group to
describe how they were treated by the director of the health center and the staff.
You can make a list or draw a map of the problems they found.
6 stairs at front
of building
clinic
far from
street
beds too
high, and
on wheels
Compare the
experiences at the
different health
centers. Did the
groups see the
same problems?
no one knows
sign language
doorway too
narrow for
wheelchair
health workers
have no knowledge
about disability
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A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007