Welcome to Access
ACCESS Fights Barriers and Builds the Power of Women to Achieve Reproductive Justice
Most people believe that reproductive health care is easy to get in California, because our reproductive rights are stronger than in many other states. Yet despite our legal rights millions of women in California still suffer consistent and persistent health care inequities and injustice, and continue to lack the resources and support to make the sexual and reproductive choices that are best for them, their families and communities.
ACCESS was founded in 1993 by clinic escorts who witnessed the many barriers women were facing – especially young or poor women – to actually obtain an abortion. The vision for ACCESS was not only to provide information and practical support on all aspects of reproductive health, but to build a community actively working to meet the real needs of women.
Our founders met women who were traveling hours through California, and sacrificing their rent or food money to pay for travel and lodging to get to their nearest abortion provider, or who were turned away from clinics because they did not have the correct Medi-Cal paperwork or a pre-existing condition.
Silvia, 21 years old from Modesto, was seven weeks pregnant and looking for prenatal care. She was unable to find a doctor that would accept her Medi-Cal. We referred her to the Stanislaus County Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Line and told her about Presumptive Eligibility which would allow here to sign up for prenatal care services on-site at a participating clinic.
As Silvia’s story exemplifies, even today, serious reproductive and sexual health barriers still exist. ACCESS uses a combination of direct services, community education and policy advocacy to help women overcome these barriers and build their power to demand the health care they need and deserve and fight for their own reproductive justice.
A Message from the Board of Directors
