
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We affirm that sovereignty was never ceded.
© Women’s Health East 2023.
Asking the Experts: A guide to best practice co-design and consultation with women with disabilities
This guide promotes principled consultation and co-design with women with disabilities. It outlines a set of eight practices for staff and organisations that enable ethical, effective work with wide-ranging benefits.
Created as part of Women’s Health East’s Margins to the Mainstream project, this guide was co-designed in 2023 with the project’s Experts Group – a group of seven women with disabilities who have worked together on a range of initiatives to prevent violence against women with disabilities.
We are the Experts: Working together as women with disabilities in advisory committees, consultation and co-design
This guide is for women with disabilities who are interested in becoming advocates. It was developed in 2024 by 12 women with disabilities – the Experts. The Experts contributed their rich and varied lived experience and expertise from their roles as community members of advisory committees, and involvements in consultation and co-design processes with organisations in Melbourne’s eastern region and beyond.
The Margins to the Mainstream project aimed to elevate the voices of women with disabilities and promote their leadership and status in society. This guide encourages women with disabilities to consider sharing their lived experiences and perspectives to influence organisations by taking part in consultations, advisory committees and co-design in projects. It includes some suggestions on what women with disabilities might consider about options, and questions to ask staff or organisations. Quotes from the Experts provide useful tips and insights to help other women with disabilities in their journeys as advocates.
This practice asset aims to support the work of health professionals in enhancing their practice to improve the services and sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women and gender diverse people with disabilities. Consultations with the Margins to the Mainstream Experts Group identified five issues of concern for health professionals to address.
Links to the asset:
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Women with Disabilities (2023) [PDF 2MB]
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Women with Disabilities (2023) [Docx]
It may feel difficult to start having conversations about gender and disability inequalities and stereotypes in your work team, wider organisation and with family, friends and other social groups you are involved with. To support you, the Experts Group have co-designed four brief conversation starter guides. They complement information in the videos and other resources.
Each conversation starter is two pages, focusing on a key message about equality for women with disabilities, with quotes from the Experts and tips on how to be a good ally for women with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace.
As well as the PDF versions that are available to download, word accessible documents are available to download.
Women with disabilities say:
‘Equality is when discrimination and violence are prevented, as sexism and ableism should never be accepted, justified or excused’.
(‘Equality is having allies who work alongside women with disabilities to take action against sexism and ableism’.
‘Equality is asking us to dance, not just inviting us to the party. We are not limited by gender and disability stereotypes.’
(‘Equality is when everyone takes action to protect the human rights of women with disabilities’.
(A project-specific evaluation plan was developed early in project inception in 2020. TFER partners were identified as the intended primary users of the evaluation, to inform their further intersectional primary prevention practice.
Two evaluations have been undertaken of the Margins to the Mainstream Project, over its four year duration from 2020 to end June 2024. These can be found hereNews and Evaluation.
A project-specific evaluation plan was developed early in project inception in 2020. TFER partners were identified as the intended primary users of the evaluation, to inform their further intersectional primary prevention practice.
Data collection and analysis was undertaken concurrently with project implementation over the period of the initial project funding, to end June 2022.
The comprehensive evaluation report includes a focus on understanding the achievements and lessons learned from the project and its implementation, to assist TFER partners to make informed decisions about next steps for the prevention of violence against women in the eastern region. In the course of consolidating the lessons learned and insights, two recommendations for funders and program decision-makers were also identified, in addition to recommendations for TFER.
Margins to the Mainstream Preventing violence against women with disabilities project 2020–2022 Evaluation Report
The detailed Evaluation Report (at this link), covers:
Margins to the Mainstream Preventing violence against women with disabilities project 2020–2022 Executive Summary Evaluation Report
The Executive Summary Report (at this link) provides a concise overview of the project, main findings, conclusions, plus recommendations for TFER and for funders.
“Equality Is…” is a set of six short documentary videos featuring Andrea, Jody, Julie-Ann, Sam and Vivienne, members of the Experts Group in the Margins to the Mainstream Project.
All the videos are captioned and Auslan translations of each video are also available (click on the link under the video title).
Access Auslan translation version here.
This video includes information about the Experts Group and the co-design process for the 16 messages and illustrations developed for the 2021 16 Days Campaign. The five Experts highlight issues and share examples from their lived experiences and with powerful calls to action for us all to take action to end ableism and gender inequality.
(Duration 20:40)
Access Auslan translation version here.
Jody speaks about her experience as a woman with an invisible disability including discrimination while studying at university and in the workforce.
“Although I can’t always stand, my voice can stand for me.”
(Duration 4:22)
Access Auslan translation version here.
Vivienne reflects on her experience in the Experts Group, her determination to keep learning and some supports that help her, as a woman with an intellectual disability.
“When we all stand up against ableism and sexism, the world becomes a much better place.”
(Duration 4:33)
Access Auslan translation version here.
Andrea speaks about how important it is to make her own choices and be independent. She talks about the challenges for women with disabilities to have their rights acknowledged, giving an example of difficulties in receiving information in a form that are accessible for her.
(Duration 04:37)
Access Auslan translation version here.
Sam draws on her experience as an autistic woman to highlight the negative impacts of gender and disability stereotypes. She shares how these assumptions inform the stereotype that women and girls with disabilities are “vulnerable.” She speaks about the importance of being able to make decisions for herself and to enable women with disabilities to follow their individual interests and strengths in employment options, as she has done.
(Duration 5:39)
Access Auslan translation version here.
Content warning. In this video Julie-Ann speaks about her experience of physical and other forms of violence and controlling behaviour by a former partner. She outlines the hardships she and her children faced after leaving family violence. This content may be difficult for some people to watch, especially if you have experienced family violence. If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone and access support services, contact details are here.
Julie-Ann speaks about her experience of family violence, being isolated from family and friends and everyday interactions. Family violence led to Julie-Ann developing disabilities that continue to impact her daily life. She speaks powerfully about the importance of having information about safely leaving a violent relationship and support for taking this step, including safe and permanent housing. Julie-Ann highlights the importance of recovery services for women and children to start to heal, drawing on her own journey. She highlights the importance of women with lived experience of family violence as mentors to other women survivors.
“Imagine a whole group of women connected together – thriving instead of just surviving – awesome.”
(Duration 11:10)
The Project Experts co-designed messages and other resources for use as part of the Together for Equality and Respect regional 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaigns in 2022 and in 2021. Everyone in the community to take action on the sexism and ablism which so greatly impacts the lives of women with disabilities and lead to high rates of violence against them.
This social media campaign toolkit was produced as part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender Violence in 2022. It includes everything that you need to post on four key days of significance during the campaign period.
You can download the print-ready files below.
This design is best for displaying on a noticeboard or office wall. It’s a great conversation starter to support discussions about the 16 campaign messages.
This design can be used to promote your 16 Days of Activism activities, with space to include event information alongside four campaign messages.
You can download the print-ready files for two postcards below.
On one side are a message about equality for women with disabilities with an illustration. On the reverse side are four actions we can take to contribute to the prevention of violence against women with disabilities.
If you would like to add an e-signature to your work or personal emails during the 16 Days, you can choose from the two options below.