Yesterday was a sick day for me. So these are the pieces left over from when I was originally planning a Monday post. Better late than never!
Here then are your three disability-related links for Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
1. Campaigners Seek EU-Wide Ban on Forced Sterilisation of People With Disabilities
Catarina Demony, US News & World Report - April 12, 2024
“Forced sterilisation remains legal or not explicitly banned in 12 of the EU's 27 members - Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, according to the EDF.”
There’s a lot to think about on this subject, obviously. Here is a quick list of some possible avenues of discussion:
The role of supposedly well-meaning parents in the practice of sterilizing disabled people without their consent.
The lifelong practical consequences and emotional trauma of disabled people who have to live with and process that the procedure was done to them, why, and by whom.
How much of the motivation is eugenics, (disabled people shouldn’t risk giving birth to more disabled people), practical, (this disabled person couldn’t ever handle parenthood), fear of sexual violence, or just general, ableist discomfort with the idea of disabled people having anything to do with sex?
The legal jurisdiction issues between the European Union itself and the separate laws of EU member states — and how similar these relationships might be to the very common legal conflicts between the U.S. federal government and state laws.
2. Opposition to a single fiscal intermediary grows among disability rights community
Susan Arbetter, Spectrum News 1 - April 11, 2024
Source: Facebook via New York Association on Independent Living
“While the program has had some challenges, including unethical providers using it for their own gain, advocates argue a late-breaking proposal to eliminate all providers, including the disability-led and disability-staffed Independent Living Centers, and turn over operations to a single Fiscal Intermediary (FI) would mean an upheaval of a program that helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities maintain independence in the community.”
I am sharing this quite local issue that applies only applies precisely to my home state of New York, because I think it highlights some broader questions around disability services. For instance:
How the perception that disability services are corrupt and inefficient compares with the reality that like any human service, there’s always going to be some cheating.
What does “cheating” even mean, exactly, with a program providing personal assistance services to disabled people? Is it overuse by people who probably actually do need the additional help? Is it over-billing by ethically compromised but also grossly underpaid aides? Or, is it the agencies involved, who use their “cut” program expenses to pay high executive salaries? And how common is any of this?
Do governments fundamentally distrust disability-run organizations, and assume they are more likely to cheat or tolerate cheating? Or are they purely motivated by cold, objective fiscal concerns?
How common are disability-run organizations worldwide? Do they have problems similar to this with their government and private funders?
3. 4 ways to make AI a force multiplier for workers with disabilities
Matt Finlayson, Fast Company - March 27, 2024
“While AI tools yield numerous benefits, they mustn’t inadvertently introduce new barriers or challenges. We found tool accessibility varied significantly by employee circumstances and job responsibilities. Conducting regular assessments and soliciting user feedback allows organizations to refine AI tool integration iteratively, ensuring ongoing compliance with accessibility standards and maximizing the benefits for all.”
This article seems to come from a place of built-in enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence, (AI) as a plus for workers with disabilities — specifically with visual impairments. But overall, the advice seems both optimistic and prudent. Most importantly, it strongly advocates involving disabled people themselves in every aspect of developing AI tools and implementing them in actual workplaces. Thje phrase “Nothing about us without us” applies in so many aspects of disability life and culture.
This newsletter depends on your reading, liking, commenting, sharing, and subscribing — and if you can, taking out a paid subscription for $5 per month, or $50 per year. I am so grateful for your support and engagement, in whatever forms you choose!