Maria Barile

Maria Barile (1953 – 24 July 2013) was a Canadian disability rights activist, who focused specifically on the rights of disabled women.

Biography Barile had hearing loss and a neurological disorder. She was from Quebec.

She received a diploma from Dawson College, where she started its first support group for students with disabilities. She went on to complete a qualifying year in order to study at McGill University, where she obtained a bachelor's and a master's degree in social science, graduating top of her class. Barile's thesis was on the dual oppression experienced by women with disabilities; during her time at university, she became aware that the issues facing women with disabilities were not being addressed by the mainstream feminist movement in Canada.

After graduating during the 1980s, Barile worked as an employment counsellor for people with disabilities at L'ÉTAPE, in addition to delivering workshops on ableism and disability. She became involved in the disability rights movement in Montreal, including in 1988 taking part in demonstrations protesting the inaccessibility of the Montreal Metro.

In 1985, Barile was among 17 women with disabilities who co-founded the DisAbled Women's Network of Canada (Dawn Canada), a national feminist network composed of women with disabilities. Less than a year later, she also was one of the co-founders of Action des femmes handicapées de Montréal (now known as Action Femmes et Hendicap), focused on women in the city of Montreal. She co-founded two companies, including ADAPTECH, a research lab focusing on assistive technology and post-secondary education, and ÉcoACCESS, which consulted on universal accessibility and sustainable development. At the time of her death, she was studying for a master's degree in inclusive design at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. Her degree was awarded posthumously. Barile had also been working with Dawn Canada on a project to support women's shelters and transition homes for survivors of domestic abuse to become more accessible for women with disabilities.

Legacy Since 2016, Action Femmes et Handicap has biannually given the Maria Barile Award, to recognise a woman or group of women who have made a significant social contribution by promoting feminist values and working to improve the lives of women with disabilities.