Disability Rights Oregon Strongly Condemns the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Portland, Oregon — Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned 49 years of reproductive freedom in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling. Disability Rights Oregon firmly rejects the very idea that any individual or group has the right to dominate others.
While abortions remain legal and accessible in Oregon, we are deeply sad and worried about the inevitable harm the restictions will have on bodily autonomy for people across the country. This reversal of rights may disproportionately impact people with disabilities who experience pervasive and persistent disadvantages that increase the need for abortion services. People with disabilities have higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and are also more likely to experience sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and reproductive coercion than people without disabilities. We do not live single issue lives, and this egregious decision represents a threat to all of our hard fought civil rights.
Each of us possess intrinsic human value and want to make our own decisions about our bodies that must be respected. We continue to advocate for accessible healthcare and are committed to upholding the rights of people with disabilities.
Elections have consequences. Voting is an important way that our experiences as people with disabilities influence who is appointed to federal courts and the policy decisions made in Congress and in Salem. To learn more about voting, here are three resources:
About
Disability Rights Oregon
Disability Rights Oregon upholds the civil rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and engage in the community. The nonprofit works to transform systems, policies, and practices to give more people the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more than 40 years, the organization has served as Oregon’s Protection & Advocacy system.
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