The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) kindly provided this transcript (Rochelle Jones) of the recent interview they conducted with Cristina Francisco from Circle of Women with Disabilities (CIMUDIS) in the Dominican Republic about the intersection of feminism, discrimination and disability.

AWID: Circle of Women with Disabilities (CIMUDIS) is an organization in The Dominican Republic that is focused on the participation and leadership of women with motor, auditory and visual disabilities. Can you tell us some more about CIMUDIS and the women involved?

CF: CIMUDIS was founded in March 1998, and is the only organization in the Dominican Republic where all disabilities are integrated (for example, paraplegics, blind and deaf). We also have members in four regional areas in our country (14 regional groups), where the poverty and discrimination are stronger than in the metropolitan areas. There are more than 450 members. The focus of our work is the education and sensitisation of communities, in order to change negative perceptions about women with disabilities.

AWID: What barriers do women with disabilities face in the Dominican Republic, and how are women overcoming these barriers on a daily basis?

CF: The principal barriers we have to face every day are structural and mental. This is a big obstacle for women to study, and to obtain remunerative work. Another daily barrier is transportation, because in the Dominican Republic, there are no vehicles adapted for people with disabilities. Some old cultures and misperceptions about women with disabilities are the other major barriers facing us in our communities. These include the perception that we can't have a family, don't have any sexuality, and that we don't have feelings - we only exists to be inside the home, caring for children, cooking etc). In CIMUDIS we know that to face these challenges, is necessary to be proactive. For this reason we conduct many seminars and courses of leadership throughout the year.

AWID: Do you think that women with disabilities have generally been marginalised within larger feminist movements?

CF: Yes, that's true. For many years we have been looking for the recognition of other women's groups.

AWID: To what extent has this marginalisation taken place, and how has this affected the achievement of rights for women with disabilities?

CF: This situation is because the larger feminist movements really don't know this sector. There is a common misperception about women with disabilities as being sick, not as a group finding their rights. For this reason, we are often overlooked and not integrated into feminist agendas. In saying this, however, in every space, such as activities, or seminars about gender or similar, when feminists are together and present, we are all getting closer. In the last two years, for example, we have had meetings and activities with some groups. Recently we had a very important encounter with different women's groups, and this event was made possible with the support of the International Institute for Studies and Research of Women -INSTRAW- in the Dominican Republic.

AWID: CIMUDIS was recently awarded one of the Innovation Seed Grants from AWID, for a 'Regional Meeting of Women with Disabilities to Strengthen, Leadership, Alliances and their Participation in Latin America'. What do you hope to achieve at this meeting?

CF: We hope to meet with other women leaders with disabilities from Latin America, such as Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Guatemala, Cuba and others. At this meeting we hope to share the experiences of the AWID Forum and to motivate each other for the creation of women's organisations in each country. We want to strengthen the participation of women in this sector with the ultimate objective being to create a network of women with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

AWID: What can international feminist and women's movements learn from women with disabilities?

CF: They have to know that is not possible to speak about empowerment and progress for women when other groups, such as women with disabilities, are suffering discrimination and violation of their rights, and don't have the same opportunities to participate. With more barriers and discrimination, we are most vulnerable to poverty. What can international feminists and women's movements learn from women with disabilities? We can't walk, see or hear, but with our courage, together, we will create a space for all in society. Our voices for our rights will be stronger!!!

Women with disabilities attending the ‘1st Regional Meeting of Women with Disabilities to Strengthen Leadership, Alliances and their Participation in Latin America’ (photo courtesy of AWID, 2006)

Source: Women Wth Disabilities Australia listserv

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