W ∙ o ∙ w ∙ D ∙ H ∙ E ∙ C

Women with Disabilities Health Equity Coalition

 

“Providers tend to see the condition, not the person

labeling leads to inappropriate care.”

 

What: A coalition dedicated to decreasing health disparities among women with disabilities by improving access to health promotion services and quality of care.  

 

Who: (1) Women with disabilities in the tri-county area of Portland, Oregon, and, (2) Agencies/organizations serving women with disabilities with an interest in improving health outcomes.

 

Why:  Frequently, health providers ignore the health promotion and disease prevention needs of women with disabilities. 

 

Purpose of WowDHEC: WowDHEC will advocate for effective health promotion and wellness services by:

·        Leadership and self-advocacy of women with disabilities in our community to speak out on key health care issues affecting women with disabilities.

·        Organizing the community in order to raise awareness and effect change.

 

WowDHEC is unique because:

·        Creates a “first” – an organized advocacy coalition that unites the current expertise in disability awareness and data with the new knowledge and skill in women’s health to address health outcomes for women with disabilities.

·        Increases visibility of the health needs of women with disabilities regionally.

·        Has a goal of changing providers’ views of this population – women with disabilities can be healthy and are deserving of health promotion, screening and education.

·        Serves as a pilot project to be replicated at additional sites throughout the state of Oregon and nationally.

 

For more information, email info@wowdhec.org, or call 503-494-2685