The Women and Me

In Sri Lanka, the number of women with disabilities is 1.3% of the total population based on the 2001 census (without the north east provinces). Based on the survey recently conducted by AKASA (www.akasa.lk) on the situation of women with disabilities, (http://nsawwd.org/rep_show.php) the largest number of women found to suffer from mobility impairments followed by hearing and those with visual disability. Further, over 60% of persons with disabilities have no access to assistive devices and equipment. These women come largely from poor backgrounds, where monthly family income is below 6000 rupees and majority of them are engaged in domestic work and into self employment.

Moreover, the large majority of them falls within the age range of 16 – 35 years old and they do not own any land of their own. Correspondingly, 90% of the women have heard of abuse of both women and children with disabilities. A substantial number of them also seem to be unaware of their rights and entitlements and at the same time most of them are not aware of the steps to be taken in the event these rights are violated.

It is in this context that AKASA aim to mobilize, organize and form the district movement of women with disabilities in 6 districts of Sri Lanka. A training of trainers on leadership and advocacy was conducted last October which was attended by 23 strong and vibrant women with disabilities from 15 districts of Sri Lanka. The energy and enthusiasm that radiates in each of them inspires me every day during the training in spite of the many pitfalls we encountered. The 3 ½ days training provided an opportunity to network each other and created and developed a cohesive action plan aimed to challenge barriers and ultimately to change attitude, behaviour and belief including influence policies towards women with disabilities in particular and people with disabilities in general.


It was my first time to facilitate training with women with disabilities as participants and in Sri Lanka. The women were shy and curious at the same time. Yet they are also eager and keen as to what is in store for them. Yes they have seen me during the district workshops. Some of them had the chance to talk to me with my little sinhala and with their little English. I know it will be difficult especially for me not only because of the language barrier (we have a translator but our English level still differs and it was still a struggle) but also I will be facilitating and managing the admin side of it. Early on, I had a meeting with the core group and delegated task but none of it were followed. None of them really bothered to do what is being delegated. I know based on my previous experience that this was always a part of the challenge but still I hoped that somehow this will be different. Frustrated? Yes, it almost reached my boiling point. The only thing that keeps me going that day was the women themselves. The warmth they have shown me and the belief they have that I can be an instrument to move forward their cause was so powerful and motivating to give up.

At the end of the 3 ½ days trainings, the women expressed increased in understanding and learning on issues and concerns faced by women with disabilities. A participant from Batticoloa said, “ I will go home and brief what I learnt to the CBO and with the help of them I would start advocating the rights of persons with disabilities at the village level”. Similarly, Nishanti, a participant from Hambantota said, “already we have a CBO in our village. With the experience I have gathered here, I will go and conduct awareness programmes to the people in the area”. There are more women who have given testimony as to the learning’s they had and committed themselves to be strong and lead the action in their respective districts.

For me, it was a very enriching and moving experience. Amid all the frustrations, tears that I have shed silently and the yearning to be back home, to my comfort zone fades with it and come along the sun shining brightly bringing hope for all of us especially for these women who have been denied of their rights.