This has been a difficult year for the Canberra community, which is dealing with the
impact of smoke, bushfires, hail and now COVID-19 (‘COVID’). Early in the crisis
WWDACT identified COVID-19 was affecting women* with disabilities
disproportionately, given that this was the second major disaster the ACT was
facing. The impact of gendered issues in emergency situations have been well
proven and researched by bodies like the National Women’s Alliance,1 who have
highlighted that women* are disproportionally impacted by disasters. The inequalities
caused by disproportionate impacts increase within ‘vulnerable cohorts,’ such as
disability.
WWDACT sought to analyse this issue through a feminist lens that is inclusive of the
experiences of women* living with a disability in the ACT through this survey and
interviews, the results of which are summarised in this report.
Ultimately, these findings should inform WWDACT’s strategy in responding to the
Royal Commission into Disability and help inform recommendations into how the risk
of women* with disabilities experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation at
these times can be prevented.
You can read the full report below.