An assistant professor of Political Science at Cape Breton University (CBU) has been awarded with a grant worth over $40,000 to support a new project aimed at closing critical gaps in how Nova Scotia’s gender-based violence (GBV) sector responds to the needs of women with disabilities.
Dr. Tammy Bernasky says, “Many service providers are not trained to recognize disability-specific forms of abuse.”
The project will build on foundational research that was conducted in 2019 by the Nova Scotia League of Equal Opportunities (NSLEO) and Easter Seals Nova Scotia. In 2025, a status report showed that progress had been made, but there were still significant inconsistencies around education, awareness, and barriers for women with disabilities seeking support.
Bernasky is driving the initiative alongside a group of committed frontline community partners including NSLEO, Women’s Centres Connect, and the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS).
“Working with our three community partners, the overall goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the gender-based violence sector in Nova Scotia to respond effectively and inclusively to violence experienced by women with disabilities while improving access to safe, accessible, and trauma-informed services,” explains Bernasky.
With the funding provided through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Bernasky will work on a series of tests aimed at bringing together advocates, researchers, frontline workers, and women with lived experience.
CBU says the project will provide two students with opportunities for real experience in the field. They will help support coordination and research efforts alongside Bernasky.
Additionally, the project wants to create an online training module for service providers and an online accessibility tool designed to efficiently connect the right resources with those who need them most.
