Stars of Hope
It is a lead organization for women with all types of disabilities in Palestine. It is run by women with disabilities, for women with disabilities. It is the only organization of its kind in Palestine and one of a very small number internationally. It is inclusive and does not discriminate against any disability.

The society seeks to ensure opportunities in all walks of life for all women with disabilities. In this the society aims to increase awareness of, and address issues faced by, women with disabilities in the community. The society seeks to ensure the advancement of education of Palestinian society to the status and needs of women with disabilities in order to promote equity, reduce suffering, poverty, discrimination and exploitation of women with disabilities. Star of Hope Society is unique in that, it operates as a national disability organization; a national women's organization; and a national human rights organization.

Background and Context
Discrimination against women with disability is still in Palestine as in most societies, all pervasive. Although attitudes towards disabilities resulting from injury during the Intifada years are less discriminatory, general attitudes of prejudice and ignorance subject women with a disability to discrimination on daily basis on every level, in terms of opportunities for schooling, work, marriage, and status within society.

Furthermore, to date the issue of careers and advocacy of women with disabilities has remained a marginalized issue, and hence women with disabilities remain not only vulnerable and disadvantaged but also in many cases isolated within the community.

Palestinian women with disabilities face a double set of prejudices, based on gender and disability. The community often sees them in terms of stereotypes: childlike, dependent, incompetent, asexual, unable to take on the role of worker, sexual partner, or mother. As a result, they are left confused about who they are, and who they can become.

It is clear that Palestinian women with disability are in need of much support, however there are no specific programs targeting their needs seriously. Based on this fact Stars of Hope Society was established with a goal of supporting disabled women in the Palestinian territories to improve the level of their lives.

The main challenge in this issue was how much this strategic plan will be compatible with the actual needs and requirements of women with different types of disabilities. Therefore, Stars of Hope together with the consultant decided to use a participatory approach extensively to yield a strategic plan that express the aspiration of the Palestinian disabled women. As such, a three days workshop was conducted joining about 35 women with different disabilities from the different governorates of West Bank. The motivate environment created during the workshop encouraged the participants to express their needs, priorities, objectives, threatens, hopes, and to identify the activities and programs which they believe will help them in achieving their goals and anticipations.

In this report the consultant builds on the outputs of the three-day workshop in developing a three-year strategic plan for Stars of Hope Society for the benefit of Palestinian women with disability.

Vision
To improve lives and life chances of Palestinian Women with Disabilities.

Mission:
To establish a sustainable system that grants full access to all aspects of life for women with disabilities in Palestine, and work diligently towards access, equity, and full participation of women with disabilities; this will be achieve through public education, coalition-building, research, self-advocacy, resource development, information and communication technology.

Looking forward to achieve it's vision and mission, Stars of Hope society is committed to:
• Actively promoting the participation of women with disabilities in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life;
• Advocating on issues of concern to women with disabilities in Palestine; and
• Seeking to be the national representative organization for women with disabilities in Palestine by: undertaking systemic advocacy; providing policy advice; undertaking research; and providing support, information and education.

General Goals
• Empowering women with disabilities to integrate and participate in community service.
• Developing the status of women with disabilities humanly, socially and economically.
• Supporting Palestinian women with disabilities, seeking to represent them, and defending their issues.
• Conducting a psychosocial and recreational programs through sport activities, camps, yoga, etc...........