Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

Press Release: NDY & 6 Other National Disability Groups Submit Friend-of-the-Court Brief in New Mexico Assisted Suicide Appeal

August 31, 2014Our News & Commentary BlogDiane Coleman

[Editor’s Note: We’ve previously reported on the New Mexico district court ruling on assisted suicide here and here, among others. The state Attorney General (AG) has appealed the ruling. NDY’s press release about our brief submitted in support of the AG, joined by 6 other national disability rights groups, is both below and online at … Continue reading Press Release: NDY & 6 Other National Disability Groups Submit Friend-of-the-Court Brief in New Mexico Assisted Suicide Appeal →

John Kelly: Disability Rights Organizations Oppose Assisted Suicide

August 28, 2014ADAPT, assisted suicide, Bob Kafka, Connecticut, new jersey, Our News & Commentary BlogADAPT, assisted suicide, Connecticut, New JerseyDiane Coleman

[Editor’s note: In last week’s NDY blog featuring two great letters to the editor – Two Disability Advocates Respond to Two Assisted Suicide Proponents with Disabilities, I said I would post John Kelly’s article on the same subject, the role of people with disabilities in opposing legalization of assisted suicide. Here it is!] We are long-time … Continue reading John Kelly: Disability Rights Organizations Oppose Assisted Suicide →

Robin Williams and the Hypocrisy of Suicide Prevention Organizations

August 24, 2014american foundation for suicide prevention, assisted suicide, International Association of Suicide Prevention, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide, suicide preventionAmerican Association for Suicide Prevention, American Association of Suicidology, assisted suicide, Final Exit Network, International Association of Suicide Prevention, Robin Williams, suicide, suicide preventionStephen Drake

The sudden emergence of suicide prevention organizations and their representatives in the media responding to the death of Robin Williams has been mind-blowingly outrageous to me – I track the suicide coverage – assisted and non-assisted – of old, ill and disabled people regularly. It’s part of my job. A near-constant in reading and watching … Continue reading Robin Williams and the Hypocrisy of Suicide Prevention Organizations →

Two Disability Advocates Respond to Two Assisted Suicide Proponents with Disabilities

August 19, 2014assisted suicide, disability activists, letters to the editor, Marsha Katz, Montana, New Mexico, op-ed, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, Letters to the Editor, MontanaDiane Coleman

On July 25, 2014, two individuals with disabilities had an op ed published in a Montana newspaper, the Missoulian, that called for a strong response from disability rights advocates, which came in the form of two great letters published in the same paper. On August 7th, a letter by a disability advocate and former wheelchair racing … Continue reading Two Disability Advocates Respond to Two Assisted Suicide Proponents with Disabilities →

My Favorite Robin Williams Movie – Awakenings – The One That Always Makes Me Cry

August 13, 2014Awakenings, movies, Oliver Sacks, Our News & Commentary Blog, Robin WilliamsAwakenings, Oliver Sacks, Robin WilliamsStephen Drake

I’m not usually emotionally affected by the passing of a well-known person. For a number of reasons, the death of Robin Williams has hit me emotionally like no other celebrity. Like many people, I’m a fan of his wild, off-the-wall humor that just seemed to pour out non-stop, but I’ll be darned if I can … Continue reading My Favorite Robin Williams Movie – Awakenings – The One That Always Makes Me Cry →