Hardwiring Accessibility: Measuring What Matters for and by People with Disabilities

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Blue graphic featuring the cover image including a woman with disability presenting to an unseen audience with two men holding a large poster that she is speaking to

At its simplest, 'WASH accessibility' refers to all intended users being able to equally access and use water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, including people with diverse impairments, genders, older people, and those who are pregnant or menstruating.

Often, accessibility is primarily considered in relation to infrastructure such as toilets and water points, but it is also relevant to other aspects of WASH services, such as information products and communications, hygiene promotion activities, and transport. Accessibility enables more people to be able to access and use WASH facilities, which is key to good health and resilience outcomes in communities.

Drawn from the experiences of Water for Women during the seven years of implementation, this brief shares lessons learnt and guidance on measuring accessibility within WASH programming to achieve disability equity from the outset. 

 

Who is it for?

This learning brief is intended to support WASH practitioners to better understand what universal accessibility is and  how they can track and measure their progress towards achieving equitable accessibility to WASH. It is also a useful resource for wider development sector actors to strengthen accessibiity and user-centric approaches in projects and programming.

A thumbnail of this resource

What does it include?

  • Overcoming accessibility challenges: Lessons from Water for Women
  • Key entry points for ensuring accessibility in WASH programs
  • Project spotlights from Asia Pacfic showcasing accessibility in action
  • Call to action to hardwire accessibility throughout programs 
  • Resources and further reading

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Citation: Water for Women. (2025). Learning brief: Hardwiring Accessibility: Measuring What Matters for and by People with Disabilites. https://www.waterforwomenfund.org/en/news/hardwiring-accessibility-measuring-what-matters-for-and-by-people-with-disabilities.aspx

 

A Water for Women logo locked up with the learning agenda theme logo for Leaving No One Behind in Inclusive WASH

This learning brief was co-developed by CBM-IAG and Water for Women. We gratefully acknowledge all Water for Women partners who have been committed to integrating disability inclusion and equity into their WASH programs (both implementing and research partners). We thank Teresea Lee and Aleisha Carroll of CBM-IAG for their lead authorship, and Joanna Mott and Lee Leong of the Water for Women Fund Coordinator team for their inputs into this guidance. Finally, we thank Bianca Nelson Vatnsdal and Mia Cusack (WfW Communications) for leading the graphic design and editing process of this brief.

Water for Women acknowledges the Australian Government’s support via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in providing funding to our partners to support disability-inclusive and equitable access to WASH for all across the region and sharing valuable inputs through this learning brief. 

 

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