A new report released today by Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) analyses the
experiences of women, girls, feminine identifying, and non-binary people with disabilities during
COVID-19. It illustrates an urgent need to address pre-existing disadvantage, and to involve
women* with disabilities in all emergency planning.
Report author Megan Hagan says ‘Findings were disheartening in that nothing was really new,
or really COVID-19 specific. Instead, there was a predictable worsening of pre-existing
disadvantage.’
78% of women* with disabilities reported experiencing new or increased mental health issues
during COVID-19. Of particular concern, 87% of LGBTIQA+ people with disabilities
experienced increased mental health concerns. These figures reflect the already high levels of
mental health concerns among women* with disability being exacerbated.
28% of women with disability were impacted negatively by increased physical labour. Ms
Hagan notes ‘gender inequalities around the mental load, home schooling, and increased
domestic work increased barriers for many women* with disabilities.’
The report also acknowledges positive changes brough about by COVID-19. Of note, there
were increased social security payments; increased availability of Telehealth appointments; the
normalisation of video calls; the ability to work from home; and a greater community
awareness of infection control, isolation, and loneliness.
These positive aspects are important to bring forward as we strive for an equitable society, but
they in no way balance out the negative impacts.
COVID-19 has resulted in increased domestic violence cases across Australia. Despite the
federal government committing additional domestic violence funding, there have not been the
resources to meet demand for support services. 12% of women* with disability experienced
new or increased domestic violence due to COVID-19.
22.73% of LGBTQI+ people with disability experienced new or increased family or domestic
violence during COVID-19 in contrast to 7.25% of cisgender women.
40% of women* with disabilities experiencing family or domestic violence did not have access
to appropriate services.
In Australia, compared to their peers, women, girls, feminine identifying, and non-binary people
with disabilities experience higher levels of all forms of violence more intensely and frequently
and are subjected to such violence by a greater number of perpetrators. COVID-19
exacerbated the situation.
When speaking on the prevention of violence against women* with disabilities in the ACT,
WWDACT CEO explains that ‘Women* with disabilities experience the same forms of violence
that all women* experience, but they also experience forms of violence unique to the
intersection of gender and disability.’ The prevalence of this violence is testimony to the lack of
prevention strategies and pathways safety afforded to women* with disabilities by current
policy, services, and systems. On this, Mx Reed notes ‘worryingly, our stats do not represent
the true extent of this problem’.
You can read our full report, summary brief and media release below.