Category Archives: Disabled Rights & Issues

The joys of impairment

Posted on September 4, 2006 by Kay Olson

In discussions about quality of life or eugenics or disability pride, some nondisabled person often asserts that it’s obvious — despite all moral arguments on the value of disabled persons lives — that a body with impairments is just physically … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 91 Comments

Protesting pity

Posted on September 3, 2006 by Kay Olson

So the MDA Telethon is tonight and tomorrow. I’ve written here and here about the reasons a charity telethon — particularly one that insists on using Jerry Lewis to evoke pity for disabled people — does not help the status … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 4 Comments

Fake disabled children

Posted on September 1, 2006 by Kay Olson

A couple weeks ago the Wall Street Journal ran an article about how textbook publishers meet diversity quotas for the photos in their books. The article covers the lengths publishers go to in order to portray diversity in race, ethnicity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 16 Comments

This is a great book, just ignore the back cover blurb.

Posted on May 1, 2006 by Ampersand

I’m in the middle of reading Harriet McBryde Johnson’s essay collection Too Late To Die Young. I’m enjoying it; Johnson’s an excellent writer, and one of the essays included in this book, “Unspeakable Conversations,” would certainly make my “desert island” … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 12 Comments

Seven Posts About Abortion, Prenatal Testing and Down Syndrome

Posted on October 19, 2005 by Ampersand

Post 1: Trite criticisms of a Washington Post essay. Alas reader “Lee” sent me a link to this Washington Post piece by Patricia Bauer. Here’s a few choice bits, but you may want to read the whole thing. Whenever I … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Disabled Rights & Issues, Fat, fat and more fat | 152 Comments

Ohio Principal Tries to Cover Up Gang Rape in School Auditorium

Posted on April 15, 2005 by Ampersand

No doubt some girls act just as MOM describes. But what does any of this have to do with a “developmentally disabled” girl who is dragged onto an auditorium stage, hit, and told “if you scream, I’ll have all my boys punch you”? The girl in this case wasn’t using her “powers of sexual attraction” to make herself a “superstar”; she was raped by a bunch of assholes using the power of threats and fists. To use a discussion of a gang-rape as a springboard for discussing how girls are victimizers, too, is bizarre and disturbing. Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 482 Comments

Government Bans Aren't a Legitimate Way of Avoiding Birth Defects

Posted on March 1, 2005 by Ampersand

During that same Family Scholars discussion of D.C. (donor contraception), “Johnny Moral” wrote: But I’m up for banning it anyway. It is 10 times more likely to cause birth defects. Unless Johnny is saying that disabled people have so much … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Disabled Rights & Issues, Families structures, divorce, etc | 67 Comments

What's wrong with Paratransit – and why

Posted on February 25, 2005 by Ampersand

An interesting article in Ragged Edge about paratransit (public-transportion vans that provide taxi services for the disabled), and how it sucks. What got my attention is the article’s description of how structural factors create a strong incentive for public transport … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues | 9 Comments

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube may be removed today

Posted on February 22, 2005 by Ampersand

This is of interest to folks who have been following the Terri Schiavo case: unless a court intervenes, Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube will be removed today. (So far – as of 10am Florida time – there has not been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, Terri Schiavo | 20 Comments

Abortion and Control

Posted on February 9, 2005 by Ampersand

Pro-lifer John (link via Hugo, I think) notices something about pro-choicers: At the protest outside the Hospital, we were counter-marched by a dozen or so pro-choicers. I looked at them, curious. And in their eyes, I saw the same hatred, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Disabled Rights & Issues | 63 Comments