Today disability advocates mourn the death of Jerika Bolen, a 14-year-old black, gay teen with spinal muscular atrophy type II (SMA), who died in hospice after requesting help to end her life. Earlier this summer, a call for donations to support her dream of a “last dance” prom in her honor focused national media attention … Continue reading Statement On Mourning the Death of Jerika Bolen
[Editor’s Note: This excellent article by Amy Hasbrouck, the executive director of Toujours Vivant/Not Dead Yet Canada, was originally published by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition here.] “Right to Die debate” – another propaganda film promoting assisted suicide. HBO’s Vice documentary series presented “Right to Die,” a 27-minute “debate” on assisted suicide. To call this a … Continue reading Amy Hasbrouck: HBO VICE “Right To Die” Documentary Is Propaganda, Not Journalism
Many have heard of 14-year-old Jerika Bolen’s plans to die, which received extensive news coverage over the summer. Disability advocates may have wondered why the story didn’t appear in the NDY blog sooner. The short answer is that, behind the scenes, we were trying to push for better health care, especially expert quality pain relief to address … Continue reading Disability Advocates Push for Better Healthcare for Jerika Bolen
Two video projects led by people with disabilities, one in the U.S. and one in Canada, are challenging the mainstream message that it’s better to be dead than disabled. We all know that personal stories are often the most effective forms of communication, and that’s exactly what these projects offer in face-to-face communication. The U.S. … Continue reading Face To Face: Challenging the “Better Dead Than Disabled” Message
Back in my teens (late 60s-mid 70s), a popular poster displayed the following statement: “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they AREN’T out to get you”. I think it’s still fairly popular – not to mention relevant – today. First, as most people already know, the EpiPen, a portable injector absolutely essential to people with … Continue reading Sometimes They Really ARE Out To Get You: Allergies, EpiPens, Playgrounds & Price Gouging
