Parents with a disability
Intro - History - Issues - Rights - Resources - Service
Rights and advocacy:
Your Right to Become a Parent: Marita's Story
"I had to fight for my right to an undisturbed pregnancy", tells Marita, a mother with polio.
Her experience was similar to that of many other mothers with disabilities. Her gynaecologist advised her to have an abortion and sterilisation so that such a mishap would not happen again. Marita felt that this reaction was "because we are not trusted to be able to take responsibility for raising children and there is also the misapprehension that disabled people produce disabled offspring who are then a burden on society."
In spite of all these prejudices, in recent years it appears that more and more people with disabilities are choosing to become parents. However, because society is slow in recognising your rights, few existing services are equipped to meet your needs.
"The right of all to reproduce and to subsequently raise their children in safe and nurturing home environments must be extended to people with disabilities in an atmosphere of support and respect for the needs and rights of both parents and children." (Llewellyn, 1995).
Rights and Advocacy: