“Infiltration strategy” for women and girls with disabilities

The three-week WILD program of MIUSA has trained more than 200 women with disabilities from over 80 countries on strategies for improving the lives of women and girls with disabilities. To move from exclusion to "infiltration" these activists form partnerships with development agencies and governments.

Problems Targeted

Founded in 1981, MIUSA is a disability-led non-profit organization headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, working to advance the rights of people with disabilities globally. By implementing innovative programs, MIUSA is building bridges to create a new era in which people with disabilities will take their rightful place in the world community. Women with disabilities are one of the most marginalized, under-served populations in the world, yet they offer tremendous potential for leadership and the ability to transform communities.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Creating a unique space for rights-based leadership training specifically for women and girls with disabilities. This is a place to gain confidence and pride, and to build the skills needed to be a force for change. 
 Promoting the strategy of infiltration for both disabled women activists and international development organizations. Disabled women activists must proactively become involved in existing mainstream development programs. International development organizations and women leaders with disabilities must build partnerships to make such inclusion sustainable.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Utilizing these strategies, disabled women activists and the development community can break the strong links between poverty and disability – championing the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities as beneficiaries and leaders in the many life-enhancing and life-saving development programs that are changing their communities.

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