Disabled Women: Our Bodies, Our Rights

Gender Matters in Disability The issues of greatest importance to disabled women in Scotland today. Disabled women’s experiences of reproductive and parenting services can be very different to those of non-disabled women. In partnership with Inclusion Scotland and the Scottish Disability Equality Forum we undertook a series of events to talk to disabled women about the issues that were of greatest importance to them. A wide range of issues were identified but one that came up at every event was reproductive and parenting rights. Women with a range of impairments and conditions reported that they had very negative experiences and that they had been treated very differently from non-disabled women. Women told us that they had been told that they were selfish for choosing to have children and that they should have an abortion for the sake of the child. Many women reported that they felt under scrutiny from social services and lived in fear of having their children taken into care.

Two large consultation events An on-line survey Workshops Roundtables The Process Two large consultation events An on-line survey Workshops Roundtables Focus groups With funding from the Tampon Tax Fund we were able to undertake a project that would allow us to find out more about disabled women’s experiences. We held two large consultation events that brought disabled women together to discuss their experiences of reproduction and parenting throughout their lives. The issues that women echoed what we had been told before. One woman said “I have three children and you have the fear they will take them off you. It is worrying about ‘the knock’ on the door. They did all this checking and checking.” Another woman tell us that she was visited by health visitors throughout her pregnancy because she was identified as likely to struggle because of her disability. Her friend in the same village, pregnant at the same time did not get visited. No-one asked if she wanted extra visits. One woman summed it up by saying “I get the feeling with some people that they judged my right to bring another disabled person into the world. There were a coupe of nurses like that.” We also ran an online survey that disabled women could fill out anonymously

“We are treated like children, it’s almost as if we are not expected to have a relationship.” “There should be more acceptance that disabled people have sex.” “Because I have a disability people felt I didn’t have a right to a sex life.” “I did not receive any sex education at school. I think as well as the clinical side of things disabled women need more information on emotional wellbeing, what is appropriate behaviour for men.”

“I never got much support with parenting “I never got much support with parenting. I just had to get on with it myself, and got some help from my mum. I didn’t get the guidance I needed and felt miserable. I didn’t get any sex education – I was at a special school. Once I got married it was an eye-opener. I was the abused verbally and mentally. I never knew anything about contraception. I didn't intend to get pregnant.”

Themes Parental rights Training and education Reproductive, sexual and maternal health services Violence against disabled women

Violence Against Disabled Women Disabled women are up to twice as likely to experience abuse as non-disabled women. Reported rates of sexual violence among disabled women range from 51% - 79% 90% of learning disabled women have been subjected to sexual abuse 20% of disabled women have experienced unwanted sex compared to 8.2% of non-disabled women.

Violence Against Disabled Women Disabled women’s lack of reproductive control contributes to an increased risk of sexual violence, abuse and coercion. Underlying contributing factors include: Pervasive discrimination Negative attitudes Lack of knowledge Poor access to services

Training and Education Inclusive and accessible sex and relationships education is vital to prevent negative and harmful outcomes. This is often not available in special education settings, and mainstream programmes rarely address disabled women’s distinct sexual and reproductive health needs. Disabled women and girls face multiple barriers in making informed decisions about their own bodies, health and lives.

Recommendations Ensure that disabled women and girls’ specific experiences are reflected in Equally Safe and its action plan. Develop continuing professional development (CPD) resources for professionals around the needs of disabled women who report experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence Improve working relationships, including referral pathways, between disabled people's organisations and rape crisis centres,  women’s aid groups and other specialist service providers. Ensure access to age-appropriate, and inclusive sex and relationships education using resources designed in collaboration with disabled women and girls.

Our Bodies: Our Rights 6th November 10am – 3pm COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh www.engender.org.uk

Catriona Kirkpatrick Development Manager catriona.kirkpatrick@engender.org.uk