Women with Disabilities Health Equity Coalition

A coalition dedicated to decreasing health disparities among women with disabilities by improving access to health promotion services and quality of care.

The mission of Women with Disabilities Health Equity Coalition (WowDHEC) is to improve the health of women with disabilities and serve as a force for social change. This shall be accomplished through community building, leadership development, and education.

The purpose of WowDHEC is to advocate for effective health promotion and wellness services, resulting in better health outcomes for diverse women with diverse disabilities in the Portland Metro area. The long term goal of WowDHEC is to cause a shift from a traditional medical model, which associates disability with illness, to a social-ecological model that views women with disabilities as multidimensional individuals with specific histories, social relations, and strengths.