Wheels of Defense

Two women are smiling and playing with foam pool noodles at an indoor event, one standing and one sitting in a motorized wheelchair. Other people are in the background.

Why This Program Matters

People with disabilities often face safety risks that traditional self-defense and public safety programs do not fully address.

For wheelchair users and people with mobility limitations, safety may involve protecting personal space, setting boundaries, responding to harassment or unwanted touching, planning transportation, and knowing how to ask for help in unsafe situations.

Wheels of Defense was created to close that gap — not by creating fear, but by building confidence, awareness, preparation, and power.

The Need

Safety is a disability justice issue.

People with disabilities experience violence and victimization at higher rates than people without disabilities. Yet most safety and self-defense programs are not designed with disability in mind. Wheels of Defense helps change that by creating accessible, practical, and affirming safety education for people with disabilities.

What the Program May Include

As this initiative is updated, Wheels of Defense will include:

  • Accessible self-defense workshops (virtual)

  • Boundary-setting and personal safety education

  • Safety planning for wheelchair users and people with mobility limitations

  • Training on harassment, unwanted touching, and unsafe situations

  • Caregiver and family education

  • Community safety conversations

  • Partnerships with safety, disability, and trauma-informed experts

Who This Program Serves

Wheels of Defense is designed for women with disabilities, wheelchair users, people with mobility limitations, seniors, caregivers, families, and organizations serving the disability community.

Our Approach

This program is grounded in dignity, access, and empowerment. Safety education should be accessible, trauma-informed, practical, community-centered, and designed to help people feel prepared — not afraid.

Partner With Us

Disability Partnerships is seeking partners to help update and expand Wheels of Defense, including self-defense instructors, disability advocates, trauma-informed facilitators, public safety professionals, healthcare partners, funders, sponsors, and volunteers.

Together, we can create safety education that reflects the real experiences of people with disabilities.

Interested in partnering? Contact us at info@disabilitypartnerships.org.