Women with disabilities are currently excluded from participation at all community levels and in all decision-making processes. Local-level actions undertaken through PSID empower and build the capacity of WWDs at the grassroots level, facilitating their active participation in their communities and in decision-making processes. At the national level, PSID actions are taken to assist the relevant government and non-government personnel to develop positive knowledge and skills in order to effectively work on disability issues. They are motivated to take positive action on disability issues and to advance the interests of disabled women.
In order to ensure the participation of WWDs, the following activities are undertaken through PSID:
Awareness meetings and workshops are held with WWDs and their family members at the local DPO centers
Training is given to WWDs at their local centers on leadership development and organizational management skills
National dialogues with policy and implementation level authorities are held at the national level and facilitated by BPKS
The interests of WWDs are highlighted with community leaders, government and non-government organizations in order to obtain commitments to ensure inclusion and participation of WWDs within their organizations and the community in general
The equal participation of women with disabilities (WWDs) in decision-making is a pre-requisite to promote WWDs' development. Through participation in family, community and organizational activities they can initiate efforts for themselves as well as for the development of all. In order to ensure the equal participation of WWDs in decision-making processes, BPKS forms women with disabilities committees which meet regularly at the grassroots and district levels and holds workshops on the participation of women in the mainstream development process. In 2006 there were 21 active district-level WWD committees operating in BPKS working areas, with 114 committtee meetings held. These WWD committees operated under the supervision of the WWDs National Executive Committee. [Members - Women with Disabilities]
Photo: A workshop on “Woman and Disability” organized in Dhaka by the BPKS National WWDs' committee
Activities
