Women's Agenda’s Post

**Embracing Diversity: Breaking Down Barriers and Challenging Stereotypes** Disability is a vital part of human diversity, offering unique perspectives that enrich society. However, societal attitudes and physical barriers often prevent individuals with disabilities from fully engaging in community life, hindering both individual and collective potential. **Challenging Stereotypes and Stigma** Individuals with disabilities have long faced stereotypes and stigma, often seen as objects of pity rather than capable individuals. This mindset perpetuates exclusion and undermines their dignity. By challenging these perceptions and highlighting their strengths, we can dispel harmful stereotypes. **The Power of Inclusion** Inclusive communities recognize and value the contributions of everyone, regardless of ability. By prioritizing inclusion through shared policies and practices, we enhance the experiences of individuals with disabilities and enrich the lives of all community members. **Accessibility Matters** Accessibility is a fundamental human right. Creating physically and digitally accessible environments allows everyone to participate fully in society. This includes accommodating public spaces and providing necessary technology and resources in educational settings. **Empowering Voices and Choices** To build inclusive communities, individuals with disabilities must have leadership roles in decisions affecting their lives. Amplifying their voices through self-advocacy creates a more responsive society that honors personal agency. **A Call to Action** We must create a world where disability is celebrated as part of human diversity. By breaking down systemic barriers and fostering inclusion and accessibility, we can build a more equitable society. Together, we can forge a brighter future where everyone is valued and empowered to contribute to their fullest potential. Image Description:** Funmi Lawal, founder and CEO of CLIP-KNIX Front Fastening Adaptive Underwear, sits with a warm smile, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity. She wears a stylish black sweater and an animal print skirt, complemented by vibrant purple socks in support of Purple Tuesday. Purple Tuesday is an international awareness day that promotes accessibility for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the need for inclusive environments. Launched in the UK in 2018, it has grown into a global movement dedicated to fostering inclusivity and accessibility. #purpletuesday

The pay gap for people with disability versus those without disability in Australia is about $511/week or $26,500 per year. What’s really telling though, is that the pay gap for men with disability versus men without disability is LARGER than the pay gap for women with disability versus women without disability. It’s 13% versus 7%. There’s also a pay gap for LGBTQI workers. And culturally marginalised ones too. The fact that the pay gap exists outside of gender lines puts to the sword any argument that a pay gap occurs because of part-time versus full-time, or child-rearing factors. It’s everything to do with visibility and representation, inclusivity and flexibility. From the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the UK, here are some examples: Men with epilepsy experience a pay gap close to 40% (it is around 20% for women). - Men with depression or anxiety have a pay gap of around 30% and women have a pay gap of 10%. Men with mental illness, or suffering from phobia, panics or other nervous disorders, experience a pay gap of around 40% (the pay gap for women was not statistically significant). - Men with learning difficulties or disabilities have a pay gap of around 60% (the pay gap for women was not statistically significant). - The pay gaps for those with physical impairments are also substantial. Men with physical impairments generally experience pay gaps in the range of 15% to 28%, depending on the nature of the disability. The difference between non-disabled women's pay and that of women with physical impairments ranges from 8% to 18%. So, increasingly it looks like the pay gap is not unique to gender alone, but simply the product of a certain demographic (of which I am part of) being able to separate itself from others. Food for thought.

**Embracing Diversity: Breaking Down Barriers and Challenging Stereotypes** Disability is a vital part of human diversity, offering unique perspectives that enrich society. However, societal attitudes and physical barriers often prevent individuals with disabilities from fully engaging in community life, hindering both individual and collective potential. **Challenging Stereotypes and Stigma** Individuals with disabilities have long faced stereotypes and stigma, often seen as objects of pity rather than capable individuals. This mindset perpetuates exclusion and undermines their dignity. By challenging these perceptions and highlighting their strengths, we can dispel harmful stereotypes. **The Power of Inclusion** Inclusive communities recognize and value the contributions of everyone, regardless of ability. By prioritizing inclusion through shared policies and practices, we enhance the experiences of individuals with disabilities and enrich the lives of all community members. **Accessibility Matters** Accessibility is a fundamental human right. Creating physically and digitally accessible environments allows everyone to participate fully in society. This includes accommodating public spaces and providing necessary technology and resources in educational settings. **Empowering Voices and Choices** To build inclusive communities, individuals with disabilities must have leadership roles in decisions affecting their lives. Amplifying their voices through self-advocacy creates a more responsive society that honors personal agency. **A Call to Action** We must create a world where disability is celebrated as part of human diversity. By breaking down systemic barriers and fostering inclusion and accessibility, we can build a more equitable society. Together, we can forge a brighter future where everyone is valued and empowered to contribute to their fullest potential. **Image Description:** Funmi Lawal, founder and CEO of CLIP-KNIX Front Fastening Adaptive Underwear, sits with a warm smile, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity. She wears a stylish black sweater and an animal print skirt, complemented by vibrant purple socks in support of Purple Tuesday. Purple Tuesday is an international awareness day that promotes accessibility for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the need for inclusive environments. Launched in the UK in 2018, it has grown into a global movement dedicated to fostering inclusivity and accessibility. #purpletuesday

United for Identity and Inclusion – A Global Force Driving Change in 2025 Dear Billion Strong Global Advisors, As 2024 draws to a close and we set our sights on the opportunities of 2025, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast commitment to our shared mission. Your passion, expertise, and dedication have been the driving force behind our efforts to champion Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (#DEIA) within the global disability community. #BillionStrong thrives as a global identity and empowerment organization because of leaders like you. Together, we are transforming the narrative and uniting the voices of persons with disabilities worldwide. Looking back on this year, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones that have strengthened our movement: • We’ve built a global ecosystem that elevates and empowers #PwDs, ensuring their voices resonate across every sector and society. • We’ve ignited a sense of pride and self-empowerment within the disability community, inspiring individuals to embrace their identities and lead positive change. • We’ve influenced policies and practices by advocating for inclusive frameworks that promote the rights, opportunities, and full participation of PwDs. As we step boldly into 2025, our shared vision of an inclusive and equitable world is closer than ever. Together, we will continue breaking barriers, amplifying voices, and creating transformative opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide. The only way forward is tougher—through bold action, unwavering resolve, and a united front. True change requires courage, collaboration, and perseverance. We cannot slow down or compromise our mission. Thank you for being an advocate, a changemaker, and an essential part of #BillionStrong. Let 2025 be the year we push even harder, expand our impact, and demonstrate that unity is the foundation of sustainable progress. Let’s step into this new year with confidence, conviction, and a shared purpose. United for Identity and Inclusion – Together, We Are Billion Strong! #WeAreBillionStrong #BillionStrong #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility #GreenDisability #AXSChat #PeopleWithDIsabilitiesInUganda #PeopleOfDetermination #DisabilityConfident #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityInclusion

United for Identity and Inclusion – A Global Force Driving Change in 2025 Dear Billion Strong Global Advisors, As 2024 draws to a close and we set our sights on the opportunities of 2025, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your steadfast commitment to our shared mission. Your passion, expertise, and dedication have been the driving force behind our efforts to champion Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (#DEIA) within the global disability community. #BillionStrong thrives as a global identity and empowerment organization because of leaders like you. Together, we are transforming the narrative and uniting the voices of persons with disabilities worldwide. Looking back on this year, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones that have strengthened our movement: • We’ve built a global ecosystem that elevates and empowers #PwDs, ensuring their voices resonate across every sector and society. • We’ve ignited a sense of pride and self-empowerment within the disability community, inspiring individuals to embrace their identities and lead positive change. • We’ve influenced policies and practices by advocating for inclusive frameworks that promote the rights, opportunities, and full participation of PwDs. As we step boldly into 2025, our shared vision of an inclusive and equitable world is closer than ever. Together, we will continue breaking barriers, amplifying voices, and creating transformative opportunities for people with disabilities worldwide. The only way forward is tougher—through bold action, unwavering resolve, and a united front. True change requires courage, collaboration, and perseverance. We cannot slow down or compromise our mission. Thank you for being an advocate, a changemaker, and an essential part of #BillionStrong. Let 2025 be the year we push even harder, expand our impact, and demonstrate that unity is the foundation of sustainable progress. Let’s step into this new year with confidence, conviction, and a shared purpose. United for Identity and Inclusion – Together, We Are Billion Strong! #WeAreBillionStrong #BillionStrong #Disability #Inclusion #Accessibility #GreenDisability #AXSChat #AccessFirst #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #Disability #Disabilities #Inclusion #PeopleHaveDetermination #StrongerTogether #DisabilityConfidence #Accessibility #BeTheChange #HappyHolidays #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear2025 #HappyNewYear #BillionStrongGlobalAdvisors #AccessFirst

HAVING A DISABILITY SHOULD NOT BE A DEATH SENTENCE!!! Living with a disability can be tough, not because of the disability itself but because of how the society treats those who are different. Many people believe that a disability limits a person's potential, but this is very far from the truth. A disability does not define who someone is or what they can achieve-it is just "one" part of their story. Unfortunately, girls with disabilities are amongst the most excluded globally. According to UNICEF, nearly 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, and girls in this demography, face huge challenges due to the intersection of gender and disability. How so? a lot of us might ask, there are 49% more likely to never attend school and 47% more likely to miss out from primary education compared to their non-disabled peers. According to UNESCO's report, only 19% of girls with disabilities complete secondary education, compared to the 28% of boys with disabilities. In most situations the "girls with disabilities are better off at home" syndrome kick in and that has greatly affected the future of those innocent hearts who did not decide to be born differently and also didn't decide that life should not be fair to them. This act has destroyed so many young dreams, talents and hopes for the future. Asides that, the employment rate of women with disabilities is very low compared to men with disabilities and normal women. Nobody wants to employ a leaping woman but they can manage a one-eyed man. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in most countries, fewer than 20% of women with disabilities are employed, compared to about 53% of women with disabilities. In developing countries, like Nigeria, women with disabilities are most likely to work in informal, low-paying jobs with limited security or benefits, making them vulnerable to poverty. Gender-based Violence is not left out as women with disabilities are at significantly higher risk of gender-based violence (GBV) than men with disabilities. A UN women report found that 40-68% of women with disabilities experience intimate partner violence or sexual assault in their lifetime. In institutions or care facilities these women are twice as likely as men to experience abuse, including forced sterilization, sexual exploitation, and physical violence. Women, they say are known to be "the weaker vessel", they believe that such women with different-abilities should be marginalised and be treated less human. It is a very terrible mentality to have, some people treat them inhumane unconsciously, that is it is already a part of them to be wicked. It is our responsibility to treat people nicely and with respect. I would love to hear from you on how you think women with disabilities are being marginalised and how it should be stoped. I remain Oluwabukunmi Ogbe-Olubanjo your Women's Right Advocate

Breaking Barriers Following yesterday’s Purple Tuesday, a day celebrating disability and encouraging us all to #ThinkAccessibility, we’re really excited to launch the next episode of our Project Nemo Disability Stories film series. This is Isaac’s story. Isaac Harvey MBE is a powerful voice for the disability community and was awarded an MBE for his advocacy work. You may even have seen him in a segment on BBC breakfast yesterday! ‘Isaac’s story’ brings you into his life, showcasing his strength of spirit and passion for adventure, extreme sports and new experiences. Isaac also highlights accessibility barriers he encounters in using fintech apps and services and some of the techniques he uses to overcome them. 16 million people in the UK are living with a disability. You have many more customers with disabilities than you realise. Isaac’s story needs to be heard. With today’s technology, financial services shouldn’t be a struggle. Together as an industry we can catch up to make Isaac’s hope a reality and “develop solutions that work for all of us”. Please watch the film and help us to spread Isaac’s story far and wide by commenting, liking and sharing with your network and colleagues. Huge thanks to Isaac Harvey MBE for letting us share his story, to Diane Lightfoot Business Disability Forum for her input and Amar Hayer Changemaker Studios for the production. Video Description: A 3 minute short film with Isaac talking about his daily life, including footage from activities at home, with family and friends, participating in extreme sports, modelling at London Fashion Week and accessing fintech products and services. #ThinkAccessibility #DisabilityInclusion

Advancing Menstrual Equity for Persons with Disabilities: Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusive Communities As the world marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Today on December 3rd, 2024, under the theme "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future," it is imperative to reflect on how menstrual equity plays a pivotal role in fostering inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable development. Menstrual equity emphasizes equal access to menstrual products, education, and facilities—remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of the broader disability rights agenda. Intersection of Menstrual Equity and Disability ♿️ For persons with disabilities, such as physical, sensory (deaf and blind communities 🦻👩🦯), intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities—menstruation presents unique challenges exacerbated by societal stigma, infrastructural barriers, and limited access to supportive services. Many girls and women with disabilities lack access to affordable menstrual products, safe sanitation facilities, and adequate information on menstrual health. These challenges not only affect their health and well-being but also hinder their ability to participate fully in education, work, and community life. Key Barriers Include: 1. Inaccessible Facilities 🚪: Public and private sanitation facilities often lack disability-friendly infrastructure, such as ramps, wider doors, or support rails. 2. Stigma and Discrimination 🤐: Cultural taboos around menstruation and disability compound feelings of isolation and exclusion. 3. Economic Constraints 💸: Many persons with disabilities face poverty, making it difficult to afford essential menstrual hygiene products. 4. Lack of Representation in Policy 📜: Menstrual health initiatives rarely address the specific needs of persons with disabilities, perpetuating systemic neglect. The Role of Disability-Inclusive Menstrual Equity in Sustainable Development and Leadership 🌍 Achieving menstrual equity for persons with disabilities aligns directly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) 🏥: Ensuring access to menstrual health services reduces health risks, such as infections. SDG 4 (Quality Education 🎓): Addressing menstrual stigma and providing resources enables girls with disabilities to stay in school. SDG 5 (Gender Equality ♀️): Promoting menstrual equity challenges gender and disability-based discrimination. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities 🔗): Closing the gap in access to menstrual health resources fosters social inclusion.

In 2024, setting out to prove that when you design for disability inclusion first, you create better experiences for everyone, Sekond Skin Society transformed from vision to reality. We brought in early adopters, built a community of thousands of advocates for inclusion and inclusive fitness, and showed the world that belonging isn't just a feature - it's the foundation. What we learned matters more than what we built: • Every time someone says "I've never found a fitness option that works for me," we're reminded why we started • When community members tell us "Finally, a place where I don't have to modify everything," we know we're on the right path • As corporate partners join our mission, we see the industry starting to understand - inclusion drives innovation and belonging is good for business Three posts that captured our journey: "The Problem Isn't Just Accessibility - It's Belonging" No one wants to feel like they're on the outside trying to fit in... Everyone wants to be valued for who they are. https://lnkd.in/gKXDvdxe "Disability Inclusion Shouldn't Be An Afterthought" If we, as a society, focused on including people with disabilities, we would actually create spaces where everyone is included. https://lnkd.in/gdsJj9Pp "International Day of Persons with Disabilities Reflection" If you think #DEI is dead, you don't understand what it is. https://lnkd.in/gd_QbvxR To our community members, corporate partners, and the incredible disability community - thank you for believing in and being part of our vision of fitness for everybody and every body. 2025 will be our breakthrough year as we launch the Sekond Skin Society app and continue to build it with you. We're not just creating another fitness app - we're building a future where everyone belongs. #ForEverybodyAndEveryBody #YouBelongHere #WeAreBillionStrong #AccessibilityMatters #DEIA #LinkedInRewind Image Description: The LinkedIn Rewind image with a teal, blue, pink and purple frame and the title Lee-Anne Reuber in 2024. 2024 Vibe: Founder, Champion, Builder Superpower: Building bridges between fitness and disability. 12 posts 202 reactions 60 comments 16 reposts 5972 followers Top Quote: No one wants to feel like they're on the outside trying to fit in. Everyone wants to belong. 2024 LinkedIn Rewind. Get yours at https://coauthor.studio

As the law states, everyone deserves equal treatment, especially when it comes to finances, which means having access to both banking and non-banking services. In December 2024, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan launched the SETARA guidelines to push for better financial inclusion, especially for people with disabilities. The aim is to give financial services the roadmap they need to be more inclusive and ensure people with disabilities aren't left behind. Right now, only 14% of households with disabilities have access to credit, much lower than the 20% in non-disabled households. The guidelines cover making spaces and digital platforms more accessible, offering better customer service, providing easy-to-read documents, and improving complaint handling. The SETARA guidelines are broken down into key sections to help with disability inclusion: (1) Overview: This explains why inclusive financial services are important, with some data, challenges, and benefits of financial inclusion. (2) Implementation Framework: This shows how to start including disabilities in financial services, from planning to making sure things are accessible. (3) Practical Guide (Toolkit): This section gives practical tips and steps to make services more inclusive, like Universal Design, removing barriers, and offering accommodations. It also includes resources and contacts for disability groups. (4) Self-Assessment: This helps financial institutions check how well they’re doing with disability inclusion and spot areas to improve. It’s a another step to make financial services more welcoming for everyone.