Bringing disabled women together, mobilising
and sharing through lived experiences
About Sisters of Frida
Sisters of Frida’s logo long description: A mottled green hummingbird with two tail feathers depicted from above over a light blue textured background. Around the bird the text Sisters of Frida is visible in different colours, with “Sisters” in green, “Of” in yellow, and “Frida” in red. The logo has a stamp selvage stylised border.
Sisters of Frida CIC is an experimental collective of disabled women. We want a new way of sharing experiences, mutual support and relationships with different networks.
Sisters of Frida started at a meeting when we floated the idea of having a disabled women’s group. It took some time to come together – the co founders were Eleanor Lisney, Michelle Daley, Eleanor Firman, Maria Zedda, Svetlana Kotova, Frieda Van De Poll and Martine Miel. We became a CIC in 2014.
We are seeking to build a/or different networks of disabled women. The barriers and multiple discrimination have not changed, we struggle to have our voices heard as disabled women in our own rights.
We would like a sisterhood, a circle of disabled women to discuss, share experiences and explore intersectional possibilities.
Our Steering Group
The steering group are disabled women who lead on strategy and priorities. Meet the current team or consider joining the steering group.
Contact Us
Email: hello@sisofrida.org
Twitter: @sisofrida
Instagram: @sisters_of_frida
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sisofrida/
Our Privacy Notice
Why Sisters of Frida?
We took a long time deliberating on a name. We are disabled women but that is not our only identity – we are also embracing the whole package of being women and disabled. And we believe strongly in the social model of disability. We want to celebrate the difference of being of different ethnic origins, different cultures and nationalities, of different sexual orientation, of being mums, having partners and being single women. We are creative and our creativeness is born from our identities – of the very pain of being impaired and disabled at times. But we are not victims.
Hence we found a role model in Frida Kahlo. She is not one immediately associated with disability and yet her art was filled with images of the crippled body. She was also an activist and she wanted a life full of love, of relationships. In her art we also glimpse the dark landscape of her mental health in the aftermath of still births and in her stormy relationship with Diego Riveria.
We can strive to live our lives as full as she did.
Group photo at the end of the AGM 2016
The previous website can be found at https://sisofrida.wordpress.com/
Sisters of Frida in the News (2017- June 2020)
DNS, Disability News Service, 14th May 2020, “Coronavirus: Disabled women ‘facing greater risk of abuse and mental distress”
- References the paper by Sisters of Frida on the impact of COVID 19 on disabled women in relation to access to food, support and health services, and the impact on disabled mothers, domestic violence and employment, the rights of disabled women, and on disabled women in prison and detention
DNS, Disability News Service, 23rd April 2020, “ROFA conference sees calls for charities to make way for DPOs”
- The article discusses how disabled people’s organisations have called on charities that are not user-led to “move over and stop taking our space,” with reference to ROFA national conference that was held online due to COVID-19 pandemic
- The article notes how Eleanor Lisney says she and other colleagues were working with other women’s organisations on a joint urgent call for action from the UK government on the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls
DNS, Disability News Service, 26th March 2020, “Coronavirus: Anger over ‘terrifying and discriminating’ intensive care guidance”
- New NHS guidance on intensive care allocation has heightened fears among activists that many disabled people will be refused life-saving treatment
- Mentions Sisters of Frida as a member of ROFA, who are calling “on the government to ensure that disabled people are not discriminated against in the response to COVID-19”
DNS, Disability News Service, 26th March 2020, “Coronavirus: Lack of engagement with DPOs ‘has led to bad policies”
- Refusal of government to consult with DPO has contributed to its failure to protect disabled people’s rights in responding to the coronavirus crisis
- Mentions Sisters of Frida as a member of ROFA
DNS, Disability News Service, 24th October 2019, “ROFA’s draft manifesto calls for end to austerity and a right to independent living”
- Article discusses ROFA manifesto and how it was compared with the disability policies included by political parties in their manifestos preceding the general election
The Guardian, 18 November 2019, “Improving the lives of women and girls”
- the article discusses the ongoing inequalities that women face, with BME and disabled women experiencing that at a great extent
The Guardian, 28 August 2019, “Women, austerity and the spending review”
- the article discusses how representatives from 34 women’s organisations called on the new PM to use the spending review to demonstrate that he is serious about ending austerity
DNS, Disability News Service, 7th September 2017, “UN demands annual UK progress report on correcting ‘grave and systematic violations’”
- The article discusses how the UN committee told the UK government to produce an annual progress report on their implementation of the disability convention
- The article references Sarah Rennie and her opinions on the issue
DNS, Disability News Service, 7th September 2017, “DPOs consider boycott of government engagement over ‘misrepresentation’ at UN”
- the article notes how Sarah Rennie notes the success of the collaborative way DPOs had worked together in advocating the interests of disabled people in the UK
DNS, Disability News Service, 26th October 2017, “Disabled MP’s offensive remarks ‘should end his political career’”
- the article notes how Eleanor Lisney said that Mr O’Mara’s political career should end because of his offensive remarks
DNS, Disability News Service, 9th November 2017, “’Shocking’ case of disabled woman trapped in care home that wants to evict her”
- the article discusses how Lakhvinder Kauer was supported by Sisters of Frida
Compiled and annonated by volunteer, Molly Tonks
Molly is a History graduate and prospective law student, starting her conversion in September 2020. As a young woman, her interests lie in working with organisations that support and uplift other women.
This blog is really great inspiration for disabled women for Inclusion,Society for Disabled Women Pakistan is striving for uplift of disabled women basic rights and recognition in marginalized communities in Pakistan since 1997. SDW Pakistan also working for promotion of Inclusive Education and mobilizing disabled children girls and boys from poor families to have access for primary education in public and private schools.
We would be happy to learn more for information and knowledge.
Best Wishes for 2012.
Thank you, Shumiala! How kind of you to say that. You sound like you re doing great work!
Best wishes for 2012
elle
Thank you Eleanor for sharing this site with me it is inspirational. I would really like to swop links with you if you feel this is in keeping with your philosophy. I founded the EDF Womens Committee and was awarded a grant to develop the web site. I am glad you like it.
Let me know if I can support you in any way.
Anne Pridmore
I am a disabled woman living in Oregon, USA.. I would very much like to connect with other disabled women and share stories. Thank you,
thank you Noreen! do share the stories here – we are very much UK based though.
A very impressive set of women and a great blog/webiste. I hope to follow your activties and join in debates now i have found you.
thank you, thats very kind 🙂 do come back!
I’ve been keeping tabs on the Sisters for some time now, and wonder if there’s any way the layperson can get involved? Donations? Some sort of press or fundraising or publications or exhibitions (I’m an artist?) I have been rather discouraged of late with the disabled movement, especially as a Woman of Colour – the “woman” and “colour” seems to get flung in my face on a regular basis and I’m weary, but still determined. Would love to hear if there’s anything I can do, so I can get more involved.
hiya! thanks for your interest. What do you mean a ‘layperson’? do you consider yourself disabled? we would love to have you involved. where are you based?
I mean layperson in that I am a Bear of Little Brain – I’m not very good at giving convincing, detailed, scientific arguments and research, and reading up on the current laws confound me a fair bit (cogitation issues). I’m based on the Wilts/Dorset border, and know a few disabled people in the area.
we are a group of disabled and allied women – not at all for those for giving ‘ convincing, detailed, scientific arguments and research’. some of us are but definitely not all of us. We hope to build new ways of connecting with each other. We have been very slow about getting started because all of us are busy in our own worlds but we are trying. I ll send you an invite through your email -if thats ok?
Certainly – and thank you kindly!
Wow!!!! how impressive to read all your profiles and to know there is a network of positive disabled women out there.
I am desperate to learn more about you guys and get involved. I feel so isolated and can do with being involved with positive forward thinking women who have the knowhow.
thank you! look out for some projects we hope to get going soon – hopefully you can join us at some events?
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hi i am a young disabled woman in birmingham uk (also named eleanor!) and i would really like to get involved, is there any way i could join or support?
Hi Eleanor
Of course you can. Send us an email at sisofrida@gmail.com!
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[…] are also very proud of our association with Sisters of Frida and we salute all fellow sisters for their tireless work in equality and human rights of disabled […]
[…] Others focused on the structural problems: the need both to hear and heed women including the voices of the most marginalised and for this to become a reality mechanisms are needed – at national, regional and international levels. This is part and parcel of the access to and for civil society – ways to speak power to the rulers. Several focused on the rather ignored issue of the huge demographic shift to aging populations not just in the north but everywhere. “There is a great need for gender disaggregated statistics beyond age 60 and by 5 year cohorts; older people comprise almost 3 generations and those at the lower end have very different circumstance and needs to those at a very good age! Our diversity can only be recognized if it is counted!” – Elizabeth Sclater, Network of Older Women, Europe. Similarly, marital status is not one of the categories normally used in statistical analysis and feminists have fought against it, but without it we cannot count widows or see the impact of early and forced marriage or measure the continuing consequences of divorce. In the same vein there must be data on disabled people. ‘Progress needs to be measured and people need to be held accountable if persons with disabilities are left behind’ – Inter-Agency Expert Group on SDGs via Eleanor Lisney – Sisters of Frida. […]
Hello from Canada,
I just found out about your collective/co-operative as I was researching accessible travel & saw an article by Eleanor… I have been the mother of a girl with disabilities for almost 2 decades, and have been a women with disabilities (some invisible) since 2008. Since that time, my family has been active in support of diversity awareness in my community, and also raised money for charities pursuing a diversity-friendly agenda. It is exciting to be able to read about your journey as A group of women friends have been meeting for about 2 years now and defining our direction… Something that grew out of the brain injury support group I belong to. We have started with recreation/social as many of these women are socially isolated and wanted more. Does anyone know of disabled women’s groups in Canada that might be doing things like you are? Thx! LL
Thank you Laural, I believe thats there’s DAWN in Canada?
Hi, I am curious about how you define disability. Do you include mental health?
[…] This article is crossposted from the Sisters of Frida’s website. […]