KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 – Most sex education materials currently provided by the Ministry of Education and relevant state actors do not consider the unique access needs of persons with disabilities, according to a recently released report that examines the barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) that women with disabilities face.
While stigma and taboo plague many women in Malaysia seeking SRHR information, nondisabled individuals can often rely on informal support systems such as family, friends and peers who may share similar experiences and can provide advice, noted the report by the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (Arrow) and The Datum Initiative.
In comparison, women and girls with disabilities frequently face isolation, both socially and informationally, with fewer accessible sources of guidance
Most respondents of a study conducted for the report reported only becoming aware of SRHR concepts once they became sexually active, or when they were preparing for childbirth.
Reactive Approach To SRHR Education
Lakshmi, a blind woman in her 50s, said she never understood the urgency or relevance of SRHR education until pregnancy became a reality.
She said she struggled with menstruation management, particularly the difficulty of determining whether she was bleeding, a task complicated by the lack of tactile or sensory-friendly aids.
Lakshmi also pointed out that there is a lack of accessible guidance on crucial topics like breastfeeding or protection from sexual harassment.
Her experience exemplifies the reactive approach to SRHR education in the country and highlights a structural failure to embed SRHR awareness early in life, noted the report.
For queer and gender-diverse respondents, the barriers were compounded. Iman, a trans-masculine respondent, who also experiences physical and learning disabilities, said that seeking information or medical advice regarding their SRHR was often accompanied by the fear of being flagged in the health care system. For them, accessing help often involved complex trade-offs between visibility and vulnerability.
Iman’s testimony highlights how basic aspects of reproductive health are made more challenging by the invisibility of disability and is further magnified by concerns about systemic discrimination within health care systems for members of marginalised communities.
Relying On The Internet For SRHR Information
As a result of these structural exclusions, nearly all participants relied heavily on the internet to obtain SRHR information, according to the report.
Mei, a woman from Sarawak with an invisible physical disability, described using Google and online forums to learn about sexual health, especially in the absence of physical access to health educators or trained professionals.
However, the report noted that this approach carries its own risks, particularly the lack of quality control or contextual relevance.
Furthermore, for queer women particularly, finding safe, affirming, and medically accurate content online is fraught with misinformation and potential harm.
Only Option Was To Become A Self-Advocate
Mary, a deaf Kadazan woman from Sabah, detailed her extensive reliance on self-directed online research to understand her condition. She spoke of doctors who were often dismissive, condescending, or uninterested in her input.
Her only option was to become a self-advocate, researching medical conditions online and then presenting her findings to professionals during consultations.
Yet even then, she faced resistance and rarely had the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with health care workers.
However, Mary was the only respondent in the study to receive early sex education from a parent.
Her mother, aware of the increased vulnerability of disabled women to sexual violence, proactively taught her about bodily autonomy and sexual assault from a young age.
The report noted that Mary’s narrative highlights how familial foresight can serve as a rare protective factor in a largely unsupportive environment.
Unhelpful Health Care Providers
Another respondent, Pauziah, a deaf woman in her 50s, recalled having access to customised SRHR resources at a workshop conducted by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN).
The workshop, which provided information about family planning, pregnancy, and early child care, involved the assistance of sign language interpreters. However, the report noted that her experience was the exception rather than the norm.
In another instance though, Pauziah said that when she asked a health care provider how to avoid another pregnancy, she was bluntly told to ask her husband to use a condom.
When she followed up by asking where she could obtain one, the provider casually responded, “any store”.
She was not offered any further guidance, thus disregarding her genuine lack of knowledge on condom usage.
A Profound Policy And Institutional Failure
These findings underscore a systemic and structural neglect in the way SRHR education is designed, delivered, and accessed by women and girls with disabilities in Malaysia, maintained the report.
The assumption that SRHR is only relevant upon marriage or motherhood ignores the full scope of rights, autonomy, and health that disabled individuals are entitled to throughout their lives.
Furthermore, the reliance on non-disabled norms in health care and education reinforces exclusion.
The consistent theme of “self-advocacy in the face of systemic disregard” speaks volumes about the resilience of the respondents in the study, but also signals a profound policy and institutional failure.
While Malaysia has developed the Pelan Tindakan OKU 2016–2022 (People with Disabilities Plan of Action 2016–2022) aimed at addressing accessibility and social inclusion, including through health and education pillars, there has been no public audit of its outcomes, no independent review, and as of 2025, no follow-up plan has been initiated, according to the report.
It added that the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has yet to clarify its post-2022 strategy, despite repeated calls from civil society to present a roadmap for disability inclusion.
Last month, KPWKM said it is in the midst of developing a new People with Disabilities Action Plan (PTOKU) as a continuation of the existing PTOKU.
According to its deputy minister, Noraini Ahmad, KPWKM has conducted a series of engagement sessions with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) from each of the seven disability categories, academics, appointed members (individuals) of the National Council for the Disabled (MKBOKU), ministries and government agencies.
