Women with disabilities becoming empowered, and recognized was the subject of yesterday’s Brown Bag Lunch Series.

Sarah Smith Rainey, an undergraduate studies coordinator and instructor in the women’s studies department, addressed the barriers disabled women face in American society and how to help eliminate those barriers in her presentation ‘Women and Disability: Health, Wealth ‘amp; Self.’

‘We’re long overdue for paying attention to disability as a significant factor in people’s lives,’ Smith Rainey said. ‘I think there has been a lot of attention given to gender and race, sexual orientation and class, but disability is one that people always shove aside.’

This mistake has led to many problems in the treatment of disabled people, and women in particular. In her presentation, Smith Rainey emphasized the fact that two-thirds of women with disabilities are unemployed, and one-third is living below the poverty line. Disabled women also face difficulties receiving formal education, specialized sex education, as well as instruction in how to live independently with their disabilities.

Smith Rainey discussed solutions to these problems.

The key, she said, is disability activism and advocating disability rights. Women must become empowered to speak for themselves and to help make necessary changes, like offering resources for women-specific issues like reproduction and increased funding for independent living workshops.

Unless these needs are met, disabled women may continue to be oppressed by unnecessary negative stereotypes, which need not be the case, she said.

‘Disability is not necessarily something to be ashamed of,’ Smith Rainey said. ‘It can be a positive social identity.’

Throughout the presentation, that was made very clear. Disabled women need to live in an environment where they are accepted and treated fairly in order to create a more positive self-image for themselves.

Rapheal Griffin, a ballroom dancing instructor for continuing education, said she could really relate to Smith Rainey’s presentation.

‘My mom has disabilities with her back, so I’ve been helping her out,’ she said. ‘There was a lot of good information there.’

Melissa Lemr, a senior middle childhood education major, agreed the presentation was very beneficial. She said it shed light onto the issue of discrimination against disabled American women and the fact that there is still more work to be done regarding the matter.

‘It was definitely full of information, but a lot more research into women with disabilities still needs to take place,’ she said.’

‘It’s being presented, but yet the more education we get, the more research still needs to be done.’

The free Women’s Center Brown Bag Series runs weekly from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays in 107 Hanna Hall.