Understand the causes of a
problem. By talking together,
women with different kinds of
disabilities begin to realize that
many of them suffer from the
same kinds of problems. This
can help identify root causes of
problems.
Working toward mental health 67
I used to think badly of
myself, as if I were to blame
for my family’s poverty. But it
is not my fault I am disabled.
Talking about
this with others has helped
me understand why disabled
people suffer the way we do.
Create a picture of your community. This exercise works best after
the group has been meeting together for a while. Your group can
draw a picture of your community. (It may help for the leader to
draw a simple picture to get things started.) Then others add
to the picture, drawing in those parts of the community that
contribute to mental health of women with disabilities and
those that cause mental health problems. These questions
can help your group create a plan of action.
• How can we strengthen those parts of the
community that now contribute to good mental
health for women with disabilities?
• What new things need to be done?
• How can we help bring about these changes?
We made a plan to go to the village council together to
raise awareness about accessibility of the community
water project and toilets. If one of us tried to do this
alone, it would be much harder.
Make sure disabled girls
and women participate
in all family and
community activities.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007