This inclusive WASH resource list covers key practices, case studies, and gender-sensitive approaches, offering insights to ensure equitable and accessible WASH services for persons with disabilities including women.
Field Note: Disability-Inclusive WASH Humanitarian Response in Syrian Arab Republic
UNICEF
2024
The previous conflict in Syria has significantly increased the number of people with disabilities and restricted their access to essential services like education, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). IN 2021, 2.9 million people with disabilities in Syria needed WASH assistance. UNICEF and its partners are addressing these needs by providing disability-inclusive WASH services to internally displaced persons and rehabilitating WASH facilities, particularly in schools. Additionally, UNICEF has developed guidelines to ensure that all school infrastructure, including WASH facilities, is accessible to children with disabilities. These guidelines, endorsed by the Syrian Ministry of Education, aim to remove barriers and improve access to education for children with disabilities across the country.
Link to document (EN)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls with disabilities
Women Enabled
2024
A graphic document that portrays women's reproductive and health rights urging them to take action when their body is violated.
Link to document (EN)
"I'm scared to talk about it": exploring experiences of incontinence for people with and without disabilities in Vanuatu, using mixed methods.
The Lancet Regional Health
2021
An article that best defines what is meant by inclusive WASH. This is an excerpt from the article:
There is no agreed definition of inclusive WASH. We define it as a process which addresses the barriers to accessing and using water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services faced by people who are vulnerable to exclusion, including people with disabilities, older adults, people living with chronic illness, women, girls, transgender and non-binary people.
Link to article (EN)
Guidance note: Menstrual Health & Hygiene for Girls and Women with Disabilities
UNICEF
2019
A guidance note on women hygiene and menstrual health directed specifically towards women with disabilities more precisely on young women.
Link to document (EN)
Casting the net further: Disability inclusive WASH
World Vision
2014
A brief about the WASH inclusion essentials in policy and practice for people with disabilities.
Link to document (EN)
Case studies - facilities and equipment for accessible WASH
Inclusive WASH
2011
The case studies in this document present real-life situations where persons with disabilities found the described ideas helpful. These solutions may not be suitable for everyone. Where applicable, drawbacks of specific facilities or equipment are highlighted, along with suggestions for improvements to make them more accessible to a broader range of users.
Link to document (EN)
Disability Inclusive WASH Practices
UNICEF
This guidance note is designed to serve as a practical tool for enhancing the inclusion and accessibility of children and adults with disabilities in UNICEF's WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) interventions. It aims to ensure that WASH programs are inclusive and responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities. The note should be tailored to the specific goals and objectives of each WASH intervention and used in conjunction with other UNICEF program planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting resources.
Link to document (EN)
Female-friendly public and community toilets: a guide for planners and decision makers
WaterAid
A guide that lays out the importance of female friendly toilets and the requirements for building these structures making way for more WASH gender sensitive approach. This guide is directed towards females with disabilities as well.
Link to document (EN)
Integration of hygiene management during menstruation with humanitarian response
PSEAU
A model for training workers in various sectors in the management of hygiene during the period of menstruation during humanitarian response. The model aims to address the health needs of women, including women with disabilities.
Link to document (EN)