Netzwerk behinderter Frauen Berlin e.V.

Berlin Network of Disabled Women

We are women with different disabilities.
We seek to improve the living conditions of disabled women and girls.
We work irrespective of disability, specifically for women, in the interest of those affected.

Women with different disabilities have been organized in the Berlin Network for Disabled Women since 1995.

Although we have different life biographies, experiences and circumstances, we all share the experience of double discrimination: that of being a woman, of being perceived as having less value in many areas in life, and at the same time of suffering massive disadvantages because of our disabilities. There are more disabled women than disabled men in this city, but municipal policies both for women and disabled people do not recognize this sufficiently. In disabled people’s organizations, politics is often done by men for men. These organizations are further divided along lines of disability.

Thanks to self-help-program and women’s funding program from the country Berlin, we have been able to finance our work, running an office since November 1997 and employing two female workers:

Bärbel Schweitzer organizes seminars and events and does counseling.
Dörte Gregorschewski is responsible for public relations and project administration

The aims of our work

• Equal participation for girls, women and lesbians with different disabilities in all areas of life
  
  
• To make the public aware of the specific needs, problems, and disadvantages for girls and women with disabilities, and to publicize the abilities and personal strengths of these women
  
  
• Further developing contact between disabled women from East and West
  
  
• To strengthen the self-confidence of girls and women with disabilities
  
  
• To further support the idea of Self-Determined Living

The Network aims at improving living conditions for disabled women and girls. At the same time we promote the interests of disabled women, girls, and lesbians in politics, in administration, and in other institutions.

The implementation of our aims is visible in the main areas of

• Peer counseling (disabled women counseling disabled women) in social, legal, workplace and health issues
  
  
• Organization of events, seminars etc.
  
  
• Initiation and instruction of self-help-groups
  
  
• Organization of educational seminars, on special request
  
  
• General information and media work, carrying out of PR-actions
  
  
• Co-operation with women’s projects and associations in the disability field as well as with relevant administrations and institutions
  
  
• Participation in committees, study groups and networks on state level and on federal level

Our offers address

• All disabled women and girls
  
  
• All partners, relatives, and friends of disabled women and girls
  
  
• Colleagues from institutions working with disabled women/persons and in women’s projects

Both our employees offer personal counseling or on the phone in the office. Also visits at home are possible in certain cases. Best times for counseling are
Tuesday    12 to 14 hrs and 15 to 17 hrs
Thursday   10 to 12 hrs and 15 to 18 hrs and
Friday       11 to 14 hrs
as well as arranged dates.

We offer peer councelling concerning

• Administrative matters
  
  
• Official matters
  
  
• Psycho-social matters
  
  
• Families and living communities
  
  
• Leaving parental/home care for independent living
  
  
• Care taking and personal assistance

Of general interest

• Want to make new contacts? Get to know other women? Want to know more about our network? Simply join us!
  
  
• We invite all girls and women with and without impairment for our monthly meetings.
  
  
• We offer open circles for women with learning difficulties, women with chronic pain, disabled mothers, women with Multiple Sclerosis and women older than 50.
  
  
• Wish to meet other experienced women? Want to share thoughts, feelings and experiences? Contact our office and we will put you in touch with other interesting women.
  
  
• Or come to one of our joint breakfasts on each 4th Saturday of the month in the Leinestr. 51 in 12049 Berlin, (costs: 3 €), or our info café each 2nd Friday of the month, same place.
  
  

      updated:

  on  Thursday, 2008.07.17, 15.34