Her Abilities, a Light for the World initiative, is inspired and driven forward by Ethiopian disability activist Yetnebersh Nigussie – 2018 Spirit of Helen Keller Awardee and 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureate.

“The main message of this award is: focus on our 99 abilities, not our one disability!” says Nigussie.

An independent award jury who is made up of brilliant women from around the world will together select the three winners for three award categories: Health & Education / Rights / Arts, Culture & Sports.

Among the international jury members are outstanding women, including disability rights activists, advocates, artists, academics:

• Shantha Rau Barriga, Director of the disability rights division at Human Rights Watch, USA
• María Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Law professor, Special Envoy of General Secretary of the UN on Disability and Accessibility, Chile
• Ninia LaGrande, Writer, host, poetry slammer, Germany
• Ekaete Judith Umoh, Social inclusion and disability expert, Nigeria
• Farida Gulamo, first (former) President of the Paralympic Committee, activist in sport and education, Mozambique
• Rachel Kachaje, disability rights activist, former Minister of Persons with Disability and Elderly Affairs, Malawi
• Mariam Doumbia, musician, part of the Grammy-nominated Duo Amadou & Mariam, Mali

Jury member bios and statements, photos, videos, criteria, factsheet about women with disabilities and more via: www.her-abilities-award.org

About the ‘Her Abilities’

Her Abilities, a Light for the World initiative, is the first global award celebrating the achievements of women with disabilities. The award is inspired and driven forward by Ethiopian disability rights activist Yetnebersh Nigussie – 2018 Spirit of Helen Keller Awardee and 2017 Right Livelihood Award Laureate.

The three categories:

Health & Education

Women with disabilities from the health or education sector, including but not limited to: teachers,
teaching assistants, school directors, university professors, doctors, surgeons, nurses.

Rights

Women with disabilities from the advocacy and rights sector, who advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and inclusion. They could be working at NGOs or charities, in the business world, at government organisations or in government or simply in their local communities to achieve vital change.

Arts, Culture & Sports

Women with disabilities from the arts, culture, and sports sectors, including but not limited to: artists, actors, writers, poets, Paralympians, runners, swimmers.