A new column from the Center for American Progress (CAP) highlights the need for policymakers to address reproductive equity for disabled individuals, a group historically overlooked in the fight for reproductive rights. The column features a poll conducted with Data for Progress, revealing how likely voters perceive disability and reproductive equity issues.
Key findings from the poll include:
- 55 percent of likely voters with disabilities believe abortion should be legal in most cases. Disabled women face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth, with significantly higher mortality rates compared to nondisabled women.
- 59 percent of likely voters, both disabled and nondisabled, think adults under conservatorships should have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health. Currently, about 1.3 million people under conservatorships lack this ability.
- 74 percent of likely voters believe courts should not terminate parental rights based solely on disability status. In the United States, approximately 4.1 million parents have a disability. Disabled parents are more likely than their nondisabled counterparts to interact with the child welfare system and face a higher risk of having their parental rights terminated.
The column recommends that the Biden administration ensure laws such as the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are used to promote reproductive and sexual health equity for disabled individuals. It also suggests Congress pass a resolution establishing a national Disability Reproductive Equity Day.
“It is imperative that policymakers pay greater attention to the disability community’s priorities and concerns about their reproductive rights, including the right to form and maintain a family and the right to have an abortion,” said Mia Ives-Rublee, director of CAP's Disability Justice Initiative and author of the column. “Reproductive rights and equity have long been ignored for disabled people, which is why it is essential to bring their issues to the forefront.”
The full column by Mia Ives-Rublee can be read under "It’s Past Time To Address Reproductive Equity for Disabled People."
For further information or expert commentary, contact Jasmine Razeghi at [email protected].
