Making Changes on Audiotape and in Braille

If you're a woman in an abusive situation and you're visually impaired or your reading skills are limited, the messages in Making Changes can still reach you.

Making Changes: A Book for Women in Abusive Relationships is a newly revised publication of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women and is now on audiotape and in braille.

The new versions of Making Changes were launched today at Province House at a panel presentation on dealing with violence against people with disabilities. The printed version of Making Changes was launched last week.

"Violence against women is horrible enough," said Patricia Doyle-Bedwell, chair of the advisory council. "But studies show that women with a disability or a disabling health problem are at greater risk of being abused."

Ms. Doyle-Bedwell was one of three panelists discussing the issue of violence against people with disabilities. The event was held in connection with Nova Scotia's Family Violence Prevention Week.

Making Changes provides practical, plain-language information and advice for women on how to get themselves out of an abusive situation. Women are often too frightened or confused to know what to do or where to start to get themselves and their children to safety. Ms. Doyle-Bedwell says the publication is a step-by-step guide to safety.

The audiotape of Making Changes will be available at women's centres and transition houses across the province, as well as at the Status of Women Resource Centre, Canadian National Institute for the Blind and through library services to the housebound.
The braille versions will be available at the Status of Women Resource Centre and the CNIB.

Note to Editors: For highlights of Making Changes, please e-mail <rossng@gov.ns.ca.>

gam Feb. 12 1:15 p.m.