1. INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION BLIND PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
GENERAL CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN IN ACCESSING EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
 BY
Nandini Rawal
Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION
OF PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (ICEVI)
&
Executive Director
BLIND PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
AHMEDABAD
INDIA

2. CHALLENGES START FROM BIRTH STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
INDIAN PERSPECTIVE
CHALLENGES START FROM BIRTH
STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL

3. GIRL CHILD NOT WELCOMED
MALE DOMINATED & PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY
CULTURAL SUBORDINATION TO ALL MALES IN HER LIFE

4. LIMITED ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES, CIVIL & POLITICAL RIGHTS
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING
PREORDAINED ROLES MADE BY SOCIETY- NURTURER

5. WOMEN EDUCATION------DEAD INVESTMENT
WOMEN DO NOT NEED TO BECOME BREAD WINNERS

6. EDUCATION FOR NON-DISABLED WOMEN A CHALLENGE
LACK OF TOILETS IN SCHOOLS IN VILLAGES
LACK OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT VILLAGE LEVEL
HOSTELS INADEQUATE FOR WOMEN
FAMILIES DO NOT SEE NEED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

7. LACK OF ACCESS TO CHOICES
LACK OF CONTROL ON HER OWN LIFE & BODY
QUALITY OF LIFE DEPENDENT ON MALE

8. WOMEN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
TRIPLE DISADVANTAGE
FEMALE, POOR, WITH DISABILITY
MOST MARGINALIZED
MOST VULNERABLE

9. CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
STIGMA OF DISABILITY
LACK OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE
EMPHASIS ON PHYSICAL PERFECTION
SAFETY & SECURITY
DOES NOT HAVE SEXUAL CHOICES

10. IN MY STATE, AS AGAINST 400 REHAB AGENCIES FOR MEN WITH DISABILITY, THERE ARE AROUND 15 AGENCIES ONLY FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITY

11. GENDER IMBALANCE IN REHABILITATION PROCESS
LESSER WOMEN ACCESSING EDUCATION
LACK OF LEGAL AWARENESS
LACK OF PROPER CAREER COUNSELLING
LACK OF INCLUSION WITH MAINSTREAM ORGANIZATIONS

12. LACK OF COLLECTIVE VOICES
LACK OF WOMEN LEADERS IN DISABILITY NGOs

13. SETTING UP & STRENGTHENING SERVICES FOR WOMEN
NEED FOR ATTITUDINAL CHANGE-
INTERNAL, EXTERNAL
NEED FOR CATCHING THEM YOUNG
SETTING UP & STRENGTHENING SERVICES FOR WOMEN

14. INFLUENCING POLICY, INITIATING PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN
SPECIAL FOCUS AND FUNDS FOR WOMEN
TAILOR MADE PROGRAMMES FOR WOMEN
MAKE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE

15. INCLUDING WOMEN WITH DISABILITY IN MAINSTREAM ORGANIZATIONS
MAKE WOMEN MORE VISIBLE, MORE AUDIBLE AND MORE ORGANIZED
DEVELOP & TRAIN WOMEN LEADERS

16. THE SILVER LINING
MORE WOMEN ARE ACCESSING SERVICES
OPPORTUNITIES HAVE INCREASED
RISING NUMBER OF PROFESSIONALS
VISIBILITY IS RISING

17. DISABILITY NGOs MORE OPEN AND SENSITIVE
PARENTS ARE MORE PROACTIVE
WOMEN MORE AWARE & VIGILANT ABOUT RIGHTS