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W.E.A.N. (Women Embracing Abilities Now) is a peer counseling/mentoring organization servicing women and young ladies with varying degrees of dis-ABILITIES to "wean" women and young ladies with dis-ABILITIES from having their limitations be their focal point, thus having them living "with" their ABILITIES.
Our mission is to end the cycle of poverty, marginalization, and isolation of women and girls with disabilities through mentoring, advocacy, education, social change and community inclusion.
Our vision is to see that all women and girls with disabilities are always empowered to activate their abilities to achieve their goals, thrive, and take their place in their communities to increase visibility and opportunities for success.
Our approach to empowering women and girls with disabilities to thrive in their communities is based on the implementation of outcome based programs, services, and promotion of health and wellness strategies grounded in theory and best practices. We pair women and girls with new disabilities, or those who are feeling lost with women with disabilities who are thriving and can provide support to our mentees during the varying stages of coping with living with a disability.
Core Values
Empowerment
Excellent Services and Programs
Dignity and Respect
Sisterhood
Monique Stamps, Sister Chapter Program Director
When I was injured at age 16 due to a car accident, my plans for my career as a hair stylist and make-up artist were side-tracked. How did I reinvent myself? What career would suit me? I became a social worker to help others like me. After graduating college, I worked at Independent Living (IL) for 10 years. IL opened the door for me to connect with other women with disabilities and create a mentoring program to help us improve our lives and thrive.
I started a sister chapter of Women Embracing Abilities Now (W.E.A.N) in Charlotte NC with the blessing of W.E.A.N Founder Janice Jackson from Baltimore Maryland where W.E.A.N was first formed. My confidence increased and I pursued obtaining a license to teach Zumba.® The women support each other in coping and learning creative strategies in living with a disability. We advocate for equal access to breast and OB/GYN medical care and educate the community about the high rates of health disparities for people with disabilities. I believe there is a sisterhood among women with disabilities and it is important to share our stories with each other. I want us to be seen and treated just as intelligent, valuable, beautiful, sexy, and as sexual as women who do not have a disability. But we have to help each other see it first. I do what I do to bridge the gap; help build a trust among us, and to reframe the initial pain into power. Turning pain into power is the mantra that gives me strength.
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