Category Archives: disability

Stephen Mendelsohn: CT Suicide Prevention Plan 2020 Includes Concerns About Disability & Assisted Suicide

assisted suicide, bill peace, Connecticut, disability, guest blog, Hastings Center, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughts Connecticut, suicide prevention, ,

[Editor’s Note:  This Guest Blog is from Stephen Mendelsohn, one of the leaders of Second Thoughts Connecticut.] This is likely a first from the mainstream suicide prevention community:  The Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) recognizes that legalizing assisted suicide encourages people with disabilities to commit suicide.  Here’s the relevant excerpt from the State of Connecticut Suicide … Continue reading Stephen Mendelsohn: CT Suicide Prevention Plan 2020 Includes Concerns About Disability & Assisted Suicide →

Canada: Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet to Highlight Between Euthanasia and Discrimination at May 18 Anti-Euthanasia March in Quebec

Amy Hasbrouck, assisted suicide, disabilities, disability, disability activists, discrimination, euthanasia, Our News & Commentary Blog, protests, Quebec, Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet

From the press release: MONTREAL, May 16, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet will join Québécers who oppose euthanasia on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at noon on the Plains of Abraham. TVNDY is a progressive, non-religious project to unite and give voice to the disability opposition to euthanasia, assisted suicide, and other discriminatory … Continue reading Canada: Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet to Highlight Between Euthanasia and Discrimination at May 18 Anti-Euthanasia March in Quebec →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “They want us to die: You wouldn’t believe how many people hate those of us with autism”

autism, better dead than disabled, bigotry, disability, disability activists, disability rights, op-ed, Our News & Commentary Blog

This op-ed was published in the Sunday, April 7 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  It’s written by Selene dePackh, who is an artist and writer.  She’s also autistic. dePakh’s op-ed describes the reality that many of us are all too aware of, but sharing it with a broad audience.  For whatever reason, the online comments … Continue reading Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “They want us to die: You wouldn’t believe how many people hate those of us with autism” →

Updates on Amanda Baggs – Surgery is on for Today!

Amanda Baggs, autistic activists, disability, disability activists, disability rights advocates, discrimination, medical bigotry, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, vermont

Before I start with the specifics, here’s the short version – due to the overwhelming response of disability activists and allies, things changed for the better in terms of communication and setting an agenda for surgery – placement of a feeding tube that will hopefully prevent the frequent bouts Amanda Baggs has had with aspiration … Continue reading Updates on Amanda Baggs – Surgery is on for Today! →

Canada: CBC Interview with Norm Kunc About Disability Rights Advocates’ Opposition to Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

assisted suicide, Canada, CBC, disabilities, disability, disability rights, disability rights advocates, DNR, Do-Not-Resuscitate, euthanasia, media, media coverage, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog

Below is an embedded video.  It’s an interview of disability rights activist/advocate/scholar/author Norm Kunc.  He was with other anti-assisted suicide/euthanasia protesters in Vancouver yesterday.  A trancript of the interview is provided below video.  I transcribed it myself, so I cannot guarantee it’s error-free, but it’s at worst pretty darn close to verbatim. Norm Kunc: Well, … Continue reading Canada: CBC Interview with Norm Kunc About Disability Rights Advocates’ Opposition to Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide →