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Globally, South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender based violence (GBV). While little is known about the levels of GBV against women with disabilities in the country, less is known about the accessibility or inclusivity of post-violence support and services. The paper draws on data from interviews and focus group discussions with thirty women with disabilities and nineteen disability and GBV service providers in Cape Town, South Africa. Thematic analysis revealed that women with disabilities experience unique disability-related barriers to GBV care and support. Disability-related stigma, accessibility barriers, inadequate training, limited resources and lack of funding contributed to poor GBV service provision for women with disabilities. Awareness and training, accessible information, reasonable accommodations, increased funding, and disability relevant referrals need to be integrated into existing GBV services to ensure sustainable and accessible pathways to inclusive violence prevention, support and responses in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VACTERL Association is a medical diagnosis that represents a broad range of characteristics affecting the following body systems: vertebrae; anal; cardiovascular; trachea; esophageal; renal and radial; and limb. Auditory, growth, sex, and reproductive characteristics are often present as well. Thus far, VACTERL has only been examined within the medical system, and, within that framework, it has become identified as an anomaly and ‘disability,’ leaving the embodied experiential realities of individuals who live with it unexplored. This paper reports on a qualitative study with eight self-identified women with VACTERL Association. This paper provides an introduction to the experiences of these women and provides an exploration of the elements and processes of identity negotiation, with particular focus on the intersection between gender and ability. As well, the impact of a medical label as it affects identity formation is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]