Where do we go from here…

Disability at the International Level

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Received its 20th ratification on 3 April 2008, triggering the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol 30 days later.

129 signatories to the Convention 71 signatories to the Optional Protocol On 12 May 2008, a commemorative event at United Nations

headquarters in New York celebrates the entry into force. The latest: Kenya ratified the Convention on 19 May 2008 http://www.un.org/disabilities/

“Disabled groups outraged by Beijing snub”

Disabled groups reacted with outrage yesterday to an official guide for assistants at the Beijing Olympic Games that describes them as unsocial, stubborn and defensive.

The guide for Chinese volunteers at the Games this summer explains that disabled people are a “special group” with “unique personalities and ways of thinking”.

The section of the manual entitled “Skills for helping the disabled” goes on to say: “Some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective. They can be stubborn and controlling . . . defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4009610.ece

Bill Proposed Ban on Selection of Deaf Embryos Deaf couples could be allowed to use embryo-

screening technology and choose to have a deaf child, after a climb-down by the Government in the face of campaigning.

Under the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, using embryo-screening deliberately to create a child with a serious medical condition - which officials had said includes being deaf - would be illegal.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584948/Couples-could-win-right-to-select-deaf-baby.html

Disability at the National Level

ADA Restoration Act

ADA Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 3195, S. 1881)

245 Cosponsors in the House 3 Cosponsors in the Senate

Images of those with Disabilities Plastic Surgeon Ponders Plastic Surgery for

Daughter with Down Syndrome http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2008/03/

plastic-surgeon.html

March 05, 2008

Growth Attenuation

'Pillow angel' parents answer CNN's questions

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/12/pillow.QA/index.html

March 12, 2008

“Maryland First State to Pass Sports Equity Law for Students with Disabilities” Atholton senior and wheelchair athlete Tatyana McFadden has

won races against some of the best competition in the world, but her most recent victory came away from the track.

McFadden’s testimony in front of the General Assembly was pivotal in it unanimously passing a bill that requires schools to provide disabled students with access to high school sports teams, either among themselves or with able-bodied students.

The bill, which takes effect in July, is called “Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities.” Under the legislation, schools have three years to comply, and it will cost an estimated $2.8 million for schools to implement the program.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1331172~Blazing_new_trail.html April 10, 2008

Disabled Activists Arrested at McCain’s Office At least 20 disabled activists, most of them in

wheelchairs, were arrested outside Sen. John McCain’s offices Tuesday after being refused a meeting with the GOP presidential nominee-to-be over a bill to expand Medicaid coverage to more people who want in-home care.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/29/disabled-activists-arrested-at-mc=cains-office/

April 29, 2008

“United Methodist Church Repents of Its Past Support of Eugenics” General Conference of the United Methodist Church

passed a resolution by which the United Methodist Church acknowledges and repents of its past support of the eugenics movement.

This resolution marks the first denomination based in the United States to repent of its past support of eugenics.

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/eugenics/index.html

April 30, 2008

Disability in Seattle

Washington State Natural Death Act (RCW 70.122.010 et. seq.) The assisted suicide initiative was launched

in Washington State on January 9, 2008.

“A past enveloped in love, a future that's uncertain” People with developmental disabilities are

beginning to outlive loved ones who have tended to them. That presents difficult choices for families, friends and society — and the prospect of a wrenching change for James Jensen.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004376309_jensens27m.html

April 27, 2008

“Assumptions”

Dan Savage wrote a piece about Disability and Sex

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=583177&hpr

May 22, 2008

Disability at UW

Framing Legal And Human Rights Strategies For Change: A Case Study Of Disability Rights In Asia The Washington Law School Foundation

hosted a two-day symposium last week that discussed disability rights in Asia.

The event drew attention to legal and human rights issues.

http://thedaily.washington.edu/2008/4/30/law-school-symposium-explores-disability-rights-as/

April 24-25

Dennis Lang Student Award in Disability Studies The Disability Studies Program at the University of

Washington, together with members of the Disability Community throughout Washington State, have established and endowed the "Dennis Lang Student Award in Disability Studies." 

The award will be made available each year to a UW undergraduate student and/or graduate student who demonstrates excellence in disability studies.

David Serlin "Touching Histories: Personality and

Disability in Sex Studies of the 1930s" May 1st

Jerome Bickenbach "Not Dead Yet: the Disability Angle“ May 14, 2008

Rosemarie Garland-Thomson May 22nd

"Integrating Disability Studies into the University" "Picturing People with Disabilities"

Disability Awareness Week May 19-23 Disability Awarenes Week Activities are sponsored by the ASUW

Student Disability Commission & Co-sponsored by the ASUW Women's Action Committee. Other events:

Kelly from Babeland: Sexability - Disability and Sex Monday, May 19th 5:00pm - 7:00pm Mary Gates Hall 082A

Joelle Bruner: ADA Restoration Act Tuesday, May 20th 5:00pm - 7:00pm HUB 204N

"BODY" - Art and Disability Wednesday, May 21th 1:00pm - 3:00pm HUB 209A

Celebration Party Friday, May 23rd 4:00pm - 6:00pm Mary Gates Hall 295

Eli Clare

Clare is a white transman with a disability. He identifies himself as a "writer, speaker, activist, teacher, and poet," who "weaves hope, critical analysis, and compassionate storytelling together in his work on disability and queerness, insisting on the twine of race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability." (http://eliclare.com/).

Public Lecture: "Gawking, Gaping, Staring: Living in Marked Bodies"  Description: Disabled people, trans people, fat people, and

people of color all know what it's like to be stared at. Through words and images, Eli explores the internal experiences of living in marked bodies and the external meanings of oppression and bodily difference.

Date: June 10, 2008 Time: 3:30-5:30pm Where: Mary Gates Hall 389

Eli Clare (cont.)

Poetry Performance and Book Signing The Morrow's Tellling Description:  A collection of poetry and prose spanning 15 years, The Marrow's Telling:

Words in Motion explores how bodies carry history and identity over time. Embracing contradiction and repetition, Clare maps his work around embodied experiences of disability, race, gender transgression and transition, violence, rural life and sexuality.

Date: June 10, 2008 Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Where: HUB 106 B

Lavender Graduation Keynote Speaker Description:  Graduate and celebrate all that is you and your people!  Lavender Graduation

is open to any student eligible, at any level (undergraduate or graduate/professional) for graduation in the 2007-2008 academic year.  The Q Center and GBLTC host Lavender Graduation as a time for the UW multiply-positioned and complex queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, questioning, same-gender-loving and allied people to come together to celebrate accomplishments of the last year and recognize our graduates. You do not have to be graduating or of a certain race, ethnicity, ability, religious affiliation, nationality, sexual or gender orientation to participate and/or attend the Lavender Graduation year end celebration.

Date: June 11, 2008 Time: 6:30 pm Where: Walker Ames Room

What do you do with what we learned in class? This quarter we covered topics related to the

following fields: Art Law History Biology Bioethics Philosophy Architecture Rehabilitation