WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 22, 2024 – The National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) is joining advocates in recognizing the first Disability Reproductive Equity Day, a day dedicated to promoting the bodily autonomy and dignity of disabled people, on May 23, 2024.
Disability Reproductive Equity Day takes place in May to observe the anniversary of Buck v. Bell, which upheld a Virginia law that allowed for the forced sterilization of an institutionalized woman. This law has yet to be expressly overturned. To this day, over 30 states legally allow forced sterilization of disabled people. Continued attacks on disabled people’s reproductive freedom go beyond forced sterilization: The National Partnership recently found that more than half of disabled women live in the 26 states that have banned or are likely to ban abortion post-Dobbs. The impact of abortion bans puts the health and safety of more than 3 million disabled women at risk, and especially endangers disabled women who are Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and veterans. Disabled people, especially disabled women, disabled people of color and LGBTQI+ disabled people, have long faced attacks on their bodily autonomy rooted in ableism, racism and misogyny.
“Disabled people have long faced disgraceful, systemic attempts to restrict their reproductive freedom,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Let’s be clear: controlling and dismantling the reproductive health choices of disabled people is the goal – not an accident. The first-ever Disability Reproductive Equity Day recognizes this reality and propels us to action. The National Partnership for Women & Families is proud to be a part of history today.”
“Disabled people’s lives, health and economic stability are at stake,” said Marissa Ditkowsky, Disability Economic Justice Counsel at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “We thank Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for sponsoring Disability Reproductive Equity Day and for prioritizing the health, safety and economic security of disabled people.”
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