Training resources: Understanding the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities into health and gender equality programming

An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 1 in 6 worldwide, experience significant disability. 

Persons with disabilities face many health inequities that arise from unfair conditions. These conditions include stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself. 

Gender inequality contributes to poorer health outcomes. Across all social determinants of health, women with disabilities remain disadvantaged compared to men with disabilities.

In 2025, CanWaCH ran a two-day virtual training that provided participants with an introduction to understanding the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities into health and gender equality programming. The goals of the training were to:

• Explain different models of disability that lead to different disability-inclusion programming approaches – and which one the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is based upon.
• Explore underpinning principles of barrier and power analyses in addressing disability inclusive programming work for women and girls with disabilities in health and sexual health and reproductive rights (SRHR).
• Introduce 4-5 core disability-inclusive programming elements in practice, with an opportunity for group work practice and feedback from course trainers.

We’re excited to share the training materials with all our CanWaCH members and partners in the sector, including guidance to run your own training on the topic. Download the learning package below:

• Example training timetable: PDF and Word

Have questions related to the training or resources? Reach out to us at [email protected].