Women with disabilities are also emerging in the field of poetry where their voices are beginning to be heard and published. The Council of Canadians with Disabilities has initiated projects in Canada and other countries to assist disabled women in developing skills and finding publishing outlets for their work. "Some write about society's attitudes toward them as women-feeling that society views them as non- existent because they are not 'whole' or 'marriageable.' Other contributors stress their abilities and express themselves as citizens of their societies. Others write about political events that are disabling to many people. Still others write of their relationship with nature, families and spouses.’’15 The two poems by writers Alexandra Pasian and Janis Andrews accompanying this article are powerful examples.

Implementing Feminism We need to understand that a woman with disabilities' "dual status as woman and disabled person endows her with a perspective that at times differs from those of both non-disabled women and disabled men."16 Quite often, the disabled feminist must deal with peers that "do not understand her disability-based political concerns. In response to this predicament, she far too often opts out of the political process altogether.,,,17

As feminists continue to educate themselves and others in issues affecting the whole diversity of women-such as lesbians, women of color and others-so too, continues the need to educate oneself in areas of concerns to women with disabilities. We need to recall what it means to be a feminist. Nancy Adamson notes that "At the core of all feminism are certain commonalities in political perspective: all believe in equal rights and opportunities for women; all recognize that women are oppressed and exploited by virtue of being women; and all feminists organize to make change.,,,18 Feminist theory has flourished extensively; it is now time to activate some of the theory. Ideas must be realized so that visions and implementation formulate change.

L.C. Di Marco is a multi-media artist/writer currently working on her Master's Degree. LiANA has also released a music recording on CD and tape, entitled “Glitters & Tumbles.”

  1. Kent, Deborah, in Women with Disabilities: Essays in Psychology, Culture, and Politics. Asch, Adrienne and Michelle Fine (eds). Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1988, p.90.
  2. Boston Women's Health Book Collective. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves. New York: Simon & Schuster lnc., 1984, p.S.
  3. Nead, Lynda. The Female Nude: Art, Obscenity and Sexuality. New York: Routledge, p. 77 .
  4. Hahn, Harlan. (1990)."The Politics of Physical Differences: Disability and Discrimination," Perspectives on Disability. Hamilton: Health Markets Research, 1990, p.119.
  5. Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women. Expanding Our Horizons. Ottawa: CACSW, p.13.
  6. 6. Ibid. p.75.
  7. Holcomb, Lillian P. "Disabled Women: A New Issue in Education," Perspectives on Disability, p.381. Further in respect to subculture, Jane Field notes that "As lesbians and gay men with disabilities, our struggle lies not just in being accepted in society, but also in being accepted for who we are both in the gay community and the disability community." ("Coming out of Two Closets," Canadian Woman Studies: Women and Disability, p.18.)
  8. Gerard, Warren. "The Coming End of Privacy," The Toronto Star. Toronto: Toronto Star Press, 1994, Sec B.
  9. McPherson, Cathy. "Responding to the Abuse of People with Disabilities," Perspectives on Disability, p.507.
  10. Berkowitz, Monroe et al. Public Policy Toward Disability. New York: Preger Publishers, 1976, p.137.
  11. Donovan, Maura. "How Accessible is an Education?" Perspectives on Disability, p.371.
  12. Ibid.
  13. Holcomb, Lillian P., p.381.
  14. Nead, Lynda, p.77, 81.
  15. Driedger, Diane. (1994). "Disabled Women Poets: Writing the Silence," Herizons, vol.7, no.4, p.13.
  16. Blackwell-Stratton, Marian et al. "Smashing icons: Disabled Women and the Disability and Women's Movements," Women with Disabilities: Essays in Psychology, Culture, and politics, p.307.
  17. Ibid .
  18. Adamson, Nancy et al. Feminists Organizing for Change: The Contemporary Women's Movement in Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1988, p.9.

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