WHY WE CREATED THIS WEBSITE
Women with significant speech and physical impairments, such as cerebral palsy and dystonia, are speaking but few are listening.
4dwm focuses on young women who have both speech and physical disabilities. These young women are talented, intelligent and want to be more engaged with society. Their access to computer technology gives them a voice, sometimes literally through speech communication devices.
The primary movers behind this website are Corbett Joan O’Toole and Meecha Bregante Corbett. This mother/daughter team wants to build a network for women like Meecha, who has CP with speech impairment. Like many young women with disabilities Meecha wants role models and resources. Creating a website to share ideas seemed like a useful idea.
They enlisted the support of Women Pushing Forwardand the Policy Research on Women and Disability (PROWD). Women Pushing Forward is directed by Alicia Contreras and founded in 1994. It focuses on empowerment of women with disabilities by tackling the complex issues of basic mobility for physically disabled women. Policy Research on Women and Disability (PROWD), founded in 2004, is a collaboration of Disabled Women’s Alliance (Corbett Joan O’Toole), Crip Commentary (Laura Hershey). PROWD organizations have organized national and international conferences on women and disability, created websites on advocacy, education and research, as well as being active public speakers on important issues for disabled women.
This website could not exist without the very generous support of the Verizon Foundation.
Content Coordinators for this site:
Robin Stephens: Robin is a disability rights lawyer and activist who has a speech impairment. You can find her at her computer working or checking email, at a protest, or just hanging out. Robin is coordinating the legal page.
Martina Robinson: Martina is a 31-year-old artist, activist, and academic, who lives in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.In 2006, she ran for Lt. Governor of her state, along with Grace Ross, on the Green-Rainbow ticket. The pair garnered 43,032 votes according to the Boston Globe. Martina is coordinating the leadership page.
Kelly Munger: Kelly is a PHD student in Disability Studies. Her research examines the lived experiences of social marginalization in adults with cerebral palsy. Kelly is coordinating the sexuality page.
Rita Roberson: Rita has a BA in Therapeutic Recreation and a Rehabilitation Technology Certificate from San Diego State University. She is a teacher’s assistant in a class called “Disability and Society” at S.D.S.U.; one of her responsibilities is to share her life story with the students. She also volunteers at the United Cerebral Palsy Assistive Technology Center and with the Assistive Technology Advocate at the local Independent Living Center, Access to Independence. She is very active in her church and loves to ride horses and play role-playing games. Rita is coordinating the assistive technology page.
Tammy Burton: Born a California girl with cerebral palsy, Tammy meandered throughout the west in the disability “system.” Now she is a proud Boulder, Colorado woman! Enrolled as full-time student at Regis University, she is closing in on a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on management. But Tammy’s greatest education has come from her first-hand experience with disability, poverty, and parenthood. As a young adult, Tammy was forced to live in a nursing home and she had to fight to live independently. In this struggle for freedom, Tammy found her calling to advocacy.
Now, as wife to Dustin and mother of Benny and Destiny, two smart, sweet, and rather rambunctious preschoolers, Tammy views activism and advocacy as more crucial than ever before. “It’s not just about me anymore. It’s not even just about people with disabilities. It’s about ensuring that all people are treated fairly. No more boxes for anyone!”
Tammy serves as the treasurer for Boulder ADAPT and serves on the Equity Committee for Benny’s preschool/elementary school. As an activist, advocate, mover and shaker, Tammy is especially committed to providing resources for parents with disabilities.
