[Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with brush stroke effect. A cream box is in the centre outlined by a dashed line with a hand stitched effect. Inside the box, text reads: “Disabled Women & Poverty: The Cost of Exclusion Participant Feedback Part 1.” At the bottom are logos for the Disability Participation News Hub, Disabled Women Ireland (DWI), the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the Department of Social Protection.]
Disabled Women & Poverty: The Cost of Exclusion - Participant Feedback Part 1
On the 17th October, to mark UN International Day of Eradication of Poverty, disabled women and non-binary people came together to discuss the gendered experiences of poverty among disabled people.
This event was a collaboration between the Disability Participation News Hub and Disabled Women Ireland, aiming to bring disabled people, DPOs and allies together to connect, speak about their experiences, and build a stronger movement for change.
People contributed through discussion, sticky notes, art and a survey (which is still open to submissions) to share their thoughts and experiences.
In this first highlight, we have gathered some feedback from those who participated based on the first question posed:
Question 1: “Compared to non-disabled people or even other disabled people do you think this group (disabled women, girls and non-binary/genderqueer/gender diverse people) face additional costs in everyday life? What kind of costs do they face?”
You’ll find some of the responses from the question in a series of images below.
We will be sharing more highlights from this event over the coming weeks, including a poem written by Alice Doyle (The Autistic Poetess) based on the event.
We will also be working on a report to gather the insights from those who participated for future work and advocacy on this topic.
Thank you again to all who shared their time, thoughts and experiences. 🫶
Our survey is open until the 14th of November if you would like to contribute to this important topic.
🔗 https://forms.gle/xunXZTLUAxUffhfB9
Subscribe below for more updates and keep an eye on Disabled Women Ireland’s socials for more!
This project was supported by the Department of Social Protection as part of the funding for the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2025.
Image 1: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with brush stroke effect. A cream box is in the centre outlined by a dashed line with a hand stitched effect. Inside the box, text reads: “Disabled Women & Poverty: The Cost of Exclusion Participant Feedback Part 1.” At the bottom are logos for the Disability Participation News Hub, Disabled Women Ireland (DWI), the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the Department of Social Protection.]
Image 2: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with a brush stroke effect. A cream box is in the centre outlined by a dashed line with a hand-stitched effect. Inside the box, text reads: “Question 1: Compared to non-disabled people or even other disabled people do you think this group (disabled women, girls and non-binary/genderqueer/gender diverse people) face additional costs in everyday life? What kind of costs do they face?”]
Image 3: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with a brush stroke effect. Three sticky notes appear across the image, each containing participant feedback. A yellow sticky note with a blue pin reads: “cost of heating!” A purple pinned note reads: “heat, food, transport, technology, pa support, equipment.” A beige circular note with a pink paperclip reads: “Yes heating is huge for me as I need summer and winter otherwise I can’t function.”]
Image 4: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with a brush stroke effect. Several coloured sticky notes appear across the image being held up by tape, each showing participant feedback. A pink note reads: “period products and mobility issues.” A yellow note reads: “period products and sensory issues.” A green note reads: “gender transition costs.” A peach note reads: “medical gaslighting and its implications.” A bright green note reads: “Reducing work hours to accommodate appointments, needs and caring.”
Image 5: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with a brush stroke effect. In the centre is a torn notebook-style sheet with handwriting-style text reading: “Very definitely. Additional costs in almost every area of living – housing, transport, education (often has to be part-time over several years – expensive), health and care, and social life (not talked about much, but it matters a lot).”]
Image 6: [Image description: A graphic with a pastel purple and pink background with a brush stroke effect. Three paper notes being held up by pins and paper clips display participant feedback. A pink square note with an orange paperclip reads: “Discrimination at work is the largest cost for me. Also directly associated legal costs.” A white lined page with a red paperclip reads: “Yes dealing with menstrual cycles adds cost. Extra cost for taxis because I can’t walk quickly which makes me feel more vulnerable in dodgy areas.” A white note with a blue pin reads: “taxis because of inaccessible public transport and feeling unsafe standing on the side of the street as a woman.”]
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