Choosing Disability: Analysis Essay

Choosing Disability: Analysis Essay

"Choosing Disability," an article by disability rights activist Laura Hershey, is a heartfelt and genuine editorial written by a severely disabled woman who expresses her opinion about how disabled people are viewed in society. Hershey, a freelance writer and disability rights activist from Denver, Colorado, who has published articles in many women's studies magazines, makes a plea to the prochoice community to address the concept of aborting fetuses that are found to have disabilities. She stresses that all women should have a choice of whether or not to give birth. Hershey says the rights and feelings of disabled people are basically ignored when it comes to the issue of abortion. As a person with a disability that is not always seen, I have a personal interest in the author's fight for disability rights. Hershey argues her case well with solid facts that discrimination can and must be fought through education, medical acceptance, and civil rights protection.

Hershey makes the claim that feminist organizations are side stepping the issues associated with abortion of disabled children. She also expresses concern that too many people believe life might be over if they have disabled children when it really represents a difficult, but manageable life that can be rewarding. According to a 1992 Time/CNN survey she quotes, 70 % of respondents favored abortion if the fetus was likely to be deformed (Hershey 172). This reflects the need for more education on disabilities in society. She gives a very personal example of an angry nun in an abortion protest that stopped in front of her, shook her finger at her, and said "You see? God even let you be born" (Hershey 171). She said even her parents were told not to bother sending her to school, but they didn't give up on her despite this advice. She says acceptance must be sought through public education, because many people view individuals with disabilities as not worthy of living. They only see that their medical costs are higher, and think they are burdens to families and society. Hershey's background as a severely disabled woman who has lived through much discrimination gives validation to these discrimination claims and highlights what she says is a need for more coalitions to advocate education about the disabled in the United States. She says these are the types of efforts that could change societies that think that everyone must be perfect. The author does not consider the disabled to be the problem; it is society and the system that does not accept them and she makes her plea to women's groups to help change attitudes about the disabled. Her personal experiences help the author make a compelling case.

Hershey also explains that it is important to note that disabled women experience discrimination from the medical community. She says many disabled women are not always educated by doctors about their rights or given a choice to have children. She said it is important to teach doctors to listen to their disabled patients so that they may have a choice whether or not to give birth. "Medical professionals often have countless incorrect assumptions about our lives," quotes Diane Coleman.