“The premise of Severino’s claims, says Marissa Ditkowsky, the National Partnership for Women & Families’ disability economic justice counsel, is a fabrication.
‘It’s always concerning when people repeat medical myths to score political points,’ Ditkowsky says. ‘It’s even more concerning when disabled people are used as a political football without consulting or truly centering us.'”
“For disabled women, ‘it’s really critical for access to reproductive health care, information, and options, especially for folks who live in states where they have banned or are likely to ban abortions,’ said Marissa Ditkowsky, who serves as the disability economic justice counsel at the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF).”
We are 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.
The devastating 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.
The reports explain the policies and practices that would uplift disabled women and families, and include a focus on critical reforms to public benefit programs and proposals that would allow disabled women and families to save money, build wealth, and thrive – and particularly women of color who face multiple systems of oppression.
“Part of the issue with what they proposed is they are asking this scale and then excluding every person who says they have some difficulty in terms of these functions. Even if you say you have some difficulty with all of these functions, you would not be included as disabled,” said Kate Gallagher Robbins, senior fellow at the National Partnership for Women & Families.
“Part of the issue with what they proposed is they are asking this scale and then excluding every person who says they have some difficulty in terms of these functions. Even if you say you have some difficulty with all of these functions, you would not be included as disabled,” said Kate Gallagher Robbins, senior fellow at the National Partnership for Women & Families.
The “Systems Transformation Guide to Disability Economic Justice: Food Insecurity, Housing and Transportation,” further illuminates the ways in which systems and institutions have harmed disabled women – particularly disabled women of color – and their loved ones.
This is the first report from the National Partnership that dives into how to build an equitable economy that centers the needs of women with disabilities, and women of color with disabilities, in particular.
