Regina Ubanatu, President of RIWD (Responses Initiatives for Women with Disabilities), was invited in July 1995 to the USA (*) for an international gathering of women with various disabilities. She attended various round tables concerning women's rights, accessibility, body image, sexuality, motherhood and so on. She was delighted at the level of the speakers, quality of debates without taboos resist to these enriching dialogues between women from all over the world, some men too (!), experts and other professionals.

Confidence, mutual respect, encouragement of open debate are the magic words of these exceptional days when everything is organised for the comfort of participants.

Activities normally inaccessible for disabled people are offered such as rafting or  sequoïas free-climbing to the top. All fully secured and supervised , naturally ! Unforgettable experiences for the sisters.

Back to France and fully motivated by her trip, her experience made Regina all the more conscious of the general narrowness of disabled women’s lives, made up of constant submission and/or struggle, from patronising institutions to lack of autonomy because of inadequate facilities, from hostile behaviour to fruitless, pitiful feelings from other people.  But also  misunderstanding, ignorance and so on able to take away from women with disabilities  their fundamental rights  and especially for those who are living in institutions. Removing them from isolation, violence and all kinds of discrimination that may have occured/may occur is our priority. So it's vital to mobilise these women to find the strength, to take the iniative and fight against unacceptable situations.

Regina began to talk with friends, both women with disabilities and able-bodied women aware of these issues. The idea of creating an association grew, a core of active, highly-motivated members was constituted, and,  only six months after her visit Responses Initiatives for Women with Disabilities (RIWD) was born !

(*)  “International Leadership Institute for Women with Disabilities”, seminar organised by Mobility International USA (MIUSA) in Eugene, Oregon.