ALL lenders, microcredit programs and projects working for economic empowerment of women must include women with disabilities at all levels including policy, training, services and funding . Development programs and donors must support creation of microcredit programs which are led by and explicitly serve women with disabilities . Women leaders with disabilities must educate and provide technical assistanc e to development programs, funders, lenders and women's organizations in order that they better understand and respond to the issues and needs of women with disabilities for access to microcredit, successful microenterprise and economic empowerment. All economic development organizations, microcredit programs and lenders must conduct outreach specifically to women with disabilities to be involved at every level, including planning, consulting, training, services, project implementation and evaluation. Development organizations and funders must cooperate with and support organizations led by women with disabilities to develop projects offering microcredit and training to women with disabilities.
Education is critical for the economic empowerment of women with disabilities.
Women and girls with disabilities must have access to education and training to develop literacy, skills and knowledge necessary for successful participation in microcredit and microenterprise. Organizations led by and representing women with disabilities, microcredit programs, economic development and women's organizations must advocate for, support and provide educational and training opportunities for women and girls with disabilities. Women leaders with disabilities representing groups of women with disabilities must take leadership roles in all conferences, international forums, workshops and policy making bodies groups related to economic development and microcredit for women, in order to ensure effective representation of women with disabilities at all levels of policy and program implementation. In order for women with disabilities to enter microenterprise ventures on an equal basis with non-disabled women, microcredit and economic development programs must build strategies and costs of equipment and services for disability related accommodations into all project and funding plans, including purchase of equipment and services such as wheelchairs, mobility guides, sign language training and interpreters or adaptive devices for production machinery and tools. Women leaders with disabilities are the best resource for technical assistance and problem solving for inclusion of women with disabilities .