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A few thoughts I wanted to share about this piece & the first is how respectful the editing process was at @macleans
This may seem unrelated to the issue or something only relevant to me but it's actually very much related to the actual content. https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/dying-for-the-right-to-live/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1605299788
This may seem unrelated to the issue or something only relevant to me but it's actually very much related to the actual content. https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/dying-for-the-right-to-live/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1605299788
It's not just about what you write about, it's about how you write about it. I have strong opinions about how I will write about disability and how I absolutely will not. They conflict with a lot of the standard journalistic practices.
So, for example, when I was asked to include people's specific diagnoses I said no, it's not relevant to the story. This was respected and more so the editor thanked me.
I have some experiences to contrast this with and it is unusual so credit where credit is due.
I have some experiences to contrast this with and it is unusual so credit where credit is due.
In terms of data about Covid, we have not disaggregated data here based on disabled or non-disabled but in countries where they have, such as UK, the majority of deaths have been disabled people. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbydisabilitystatusenglandandwales/2marchto14july2020
This thread discusses the particularly high risk faced by people with developmental disabilities. Again, we only have data from other countries to extrapolate from. https://twitter.com/yonalunsky/status/1327635037349670917?s=20
One of the people I interviewed but who did not make it into the piece was @LeahGazan
I spoke with her about her private member's bill which would turn CERB into an ongoing guaranteed liveable basic income while preserving programs disabled people need.
I spoke with her about her private member's bill which would turn CERB into an ongoing guaranteed liveable basic income while preserving programs disabled people need.
. @LeahGazan: It is abhorrent in a country as rich as Canada that disabled persons continue not to have adequate resources to live in dignity. This is a willful violation of human rights stipulated in our Constitution.
. @LeahGazan: Human rights must always be upheld. It is time for a guaranteed livable basic income for all in addition to current and further government supports and programs!
. @LeahGazan also said that no one person should ever feel the need to end their life because they have given up on systems that continue to ignore their social suffering.
This situation can change. Our govts can save Susan's life and that of other disabled people.
Or not.
This situation can change. Our govts can save Susan's life and that of other disabled people.
Or not.
It's all a matter of choices made by people with an abundance of choices.
Decisions they make determine how few and how wretched the choices the rest of us have.
Decisions they make determine how few and how wretched the choices the rest of us have.
The fact that our government is voting on Bill C-7 to open up MAID, instead of creating real support for disabled people during a pandemic is a choice.
We need to focus on providing better and real choices for disabled people to live.
The push for C-7 comes from the privileged but the consequences of it will land on the most marginalized.
The push for C-7 comes from the privileged but the consequences of it will land on the most marginalized.
Choice and freedom are complicated concepts despite the casual way these words are thrown around.
I think of myself as someone who is not easily influenced or pressured away from their own convictions but I assure you I have been at times. I know choice exists in context.
I think of myself as someone who is not easily influenced or pressured away from their own convictions but I assure you I have been at times. I know choice exists in context.
The pro wide open MAID folks have simplicity on their side. They have a winning elevator pitch. It's ad man's campaign.
Those of us urging restraint have lengthy essays on ableism - a word a significant number of Canadians don't even know exists let alone understand.
Those of us urging restraint have lengthy essays on ableism - a word a significant number of Canadians don't even know exists let alone understand.
We have entire disciplines that study the impact of culture, politics and economics on people's behaviour.
We know the way these things impact something such as a person's 'choice' to engage in violence or crime.
But somehow we're all magically uninfluenced by a society that things disabled people are better off dead & that sentences us to isolation & poverty.
But somehow we're all magically uninfluenced by a society that things disabled people are better off dead & that sentences us to isolation & poverty.
Please ask your MP to vote against C-7 and to support @LeahGazan's bill. https://www.leahgazan.ca/basicincome_email
And since some of them have been so upset by my column, I might as well also add for context that Dying with Dignity, the pro wide open MAID lobby group, were supporters of Robert Latimer who murdered his disabled daughter. https://twitter.com/mssinenomine/status/1234176730782322689?s=20
