The options available to girls with disabilities should reflect their boundless potential.

But because of widely-held myths about their capabilities, girls with disabilities are often held back from taking risks that could enrich their personal development, deprived of opportunities to make friends, and granted less access to resources.
As a result, girls with disabilities are more likely to experience low self-esteem than girls without disabilities.1 2 3

What if we were to question the status quo?

What if, from an early age, women with disabilities were equally as encouraged to consider their goals, challenge themselves, and take pride in every aspect of their identities? Not only would women with disabilities have far greater opportunities to lead fulfilling lives and to affect change, but our world would also reap the benefits of that added value.

The Power of Self-Esteem

FULLFILLMENT
Having self-esteem is a vital first step towards personal fulfillment. When girls with disabilities are encouraged to have pride in their identities and strengths, they gain the mindset necessary for pursuing the greatest versions of themselves.
LEADERSHIP
Self-esteem opens up pathways to leadership. When girls and women with disabilities have confidence in their goals and pride in their abilities, they start businesses, advocate for better policies, and speak up for themselves and for others.
ADDED VALUE
When women with disabilities reach their fullest potential and have greater opportunities to rise to key decision-making positions, our world sees economic returns4 and benefits from a larger and more diverse pool of visionaries.

Why Girls?

Today, the need for female leaders with disabilities is as great as ever. Nationally and globally, girls and women with disabilities face a unique set of economic, social, and political challenges that include alarming rates of poverty, unemployment, sexual assault, and depression. For these reasons, it is all the more important that girls with disabilities are encouraged from a young age to take pride in who they are, to set ambitious goals, and to fight for the respect that they deserve.
Employment
Only 34.5% of women with disabilities work for pay, compared to 40% of men with disabilities.5
Financial Security
Women with disabilities are 25% more likely to live in poverty than men with disabilities.6 7
Safety
Among women with intellectual disabilities, the rate of sexual assault is about 12 times the rate against people without disabilities.8

Our Approach to Self-Esteem

We provide opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to consider their goals, step outside of their comfort zones, and build networks of support. By investing in girls with disabilities, we nurture a strong community of leaders who push back against stereotypes and advocate for change, thereby creating even greater opportunities for the next generation.
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