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MEET DR NAMIRA WILLIAMS, CEO OF DISABILITY MATERNITY CARE ✦ It’s been a year since readers of Brilliant Online last met up with disAbility Maternity Care.
✶ Dr Namira Williams
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During this time we have been strengthening our role in improving maternity care for parents with disabilities. We have been doing this through collaborative partnerships with other organisations, such as Maternity Choices, Karinya House, and individual women with a disability," comments Dr Namira Williams, CEO of disAbility Maternity Care. Maternity Choices is a national organisation dedicated to advocacy and improving maternity services for women in Australia. Karinya House, in the Australian Capital Territory, provides support and accommodation services for vulnerable women, including women with disabilities. Like disAbility Maternity Care, these organisations are committed to improving care for women and families, and in particular, those who are disadvantaged. Last year also saw them establish the role of brand ambassador with
Deaire Pecora. Deaire brings to this role her lived experience as a mother with a disability and a passion to see service delivery improve for parents with disabilities. Deaire has two young children and wished "an organisation such as disAbility Maternity Care was around when I had my first child. This would have made it so much easier for me". Brilliant Online shared Deaire's story: Becoming pregnant with cerebral palsy in December 2021.
Changing the conversation for parents with disabilities While many services have been affected by COVID over the last year, disAbility MaternityCare has used this time to build their Strategic Plan and goals, develop partnerships, services and education. Their vision is for parents with disabilities to be equal and empowered citizens.
