Recommended actions

Preparedness Response Recovery
1. Assessment, analysis and planning
Map sexual and reproductive health services, and supplies, for persons with disabilities, and their accessibility. Include maternal and newborn care, contraception and emergency contraception, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS services. X X
Determine the degree to which persons with disabilities have access to health facilities, services and supplies. Plan how to address gaps. (For example, use large print or Braille to make information more accessible.) Reduce wait times. X X
To address the sexual and reproductive health requirements of persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disabilities, organize outreach services and delivery of supplies to persons with disabilities who are isolated in their homes. Make sure outreach programmes include accurate information on sexual and reproductive health. X
Assess the protection concerns of women, men, girls and boys with disabilities. Consider how easily they can access sexual and reproductive health information and services. Address safety risks that persons with disabilities identify. X X X
Identify barriers and risks that persons with disabilities face when they access sexual and reproductive health services and programmes. X X
2. Resource mobilization
Allocate funds to train health staff on the cumulative effect on sexuality of the intersectionality of age, gender and disability. X X
Recruit persons with disabilities who have expertise in and experience of sexual and reproductive health. X X
Include disability modules in all sexual and reproductive health trainings for staff. Make training available to service providers, support staff, community outreach workers, mobilizers, and staff who work on gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV. X X X
3. Implementation
Integrate disability inclusion in all sexual and reproductive health prevention and response services (information, services and supplies). Do so for adolescent sexual and reproductive health; maternal and newborn health; contraceptive services; services to prevent and respond to GBV; and services to prevent and address sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. X X
In collaboration with OPDs and disability-focused organizations, develop public information materials on sexual and reproductive health and disseminate them in a range of accessible formats. X X X
Ensure that informed consent procedures are respected, including when persons with disabilities are asked to take decisions. Procedures should comply with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Train staff and providers in how to communicate with people who have a range of disabilities.148 X X
Ensure all health facilities are physically accessible, and that sexual and reproductive health personnel are sensitized to disability inclusion and equipped to provide information in multiple accessible formats. Include adolescents with disabilities. X X X
Encourage and mobilize persons with disabilities and OPDs to undertake evidence-based advocacy on sexual and reproductive health issues, including HIV, gender and rights. X X
Create a steering committee to advocate for the adoption of a sexual and reproductive health model that is disability-inclusive. Members should include persons with disabilities, OPD members and representatives of INGOs, the protection and health sectors, and national authorities. X
Reach out to women, girls and youth with disabilities during community information sessions on sexual and reproductive health. X
Include sexual and reproductive health information, services and supplies for persons with disabilities in school health programmes, nutrition programmes and other relevant programmes. X X
4. Coordination
Coordinate with other sectors (such as protection, and food and nutrition) to ensure a quality sexual and reproductive health system and an efficient referral system to support it. X X
Coordinate with the health and protection sectors, the sexual and reproductive health working group, and gender-based violence Areas of Responsibility to ensure that persons with disabilities are protected and have access to all sexual and reproductive health information, services and supplies. X
Encourage national and community-based OPDs to participate actively in sexual and reproductive health working groups. X X X
5. Monitoring and evaluation
Collect and analyse data on sexual and reproductive health services and their delivery. Disaggregate information by sex, age and disability. X X
Monitor the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services. X X X
Use monitoring and reporting processes to promote reflection and accountability. Review the extent to which persons with disabilities have access to and use sexual and reproductive health services. X X