In June 2013, Marie Stopes International launched a study into the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services for people with disability living in four regions of Tanzania. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT)–one of the country's largest disability service providers.

CCBRT's advocacy manager, 40-year-old Frederick Msigallah, led the research team. As a person living with a disability and an experienced researcher on disability, Frederick was well placed to develop the research tools and coach the researchers on how best to communicate with people with disability.

His leadership and hands-on involvement in collecting data was inspiring for research participants, who were amazed to see a fellow person with a disability in a wheelchair playing an active role and negotiating the logistical challenges of data collection. Often meetings were held upstairs or in buildings without lifts or ramps, for example, which precluded Frederick from participating, highlighting yet again the very real barriers that people with disability face.

'I am very proud of my contribution to the success of the study,' Frederick says. 'The most important thing is that my active involvement from the initial stage of concept development to the report writing is a recognition that I am able to contribute towards solving problems facing my fellow people with disability, when they are accessing services including sexual and reproductive health.'

According to Frederick, partnerships between pro-disability organisations, service providers and government agencies–particularly in sexual and reproductive health– are crucial to ensuring better access to services for people with disability. He believes pro-disability organisations can offer expertise in technical support and training while the government plays a vital role in formulating pro-disability policies and regulations.