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| Jane Hash at Redondo Beach |
As a woman with a significant physical disability, I have
always had to fight for bodily autonomy. Healthcare policies that govern how
Medicaid dollars are spent in providing home care to people like me attempt to
dictate how often I can use the toilet, take a bath, eat a home cooked meal and
leave my house. This is a battle I fight constantly. When I say “constantly” I
mean, I have regular meetings with lawyers to maintain my right to choose who
helps me change my pads/tampons and all the other personal things I need
assistance with.
As a woman with a significant physical disability, I am at
greater risk for being sexually assaulted than non-disabled women…especially if
my chosen Caregivers are taken away from me. This is a scary reality that has
just become scarier because of all the anti-abortion laws being passed across
the country. If this trend continues and I was impregnated by rape, I could be
victimized a second time by being denied an abortion.
As a woman with a significant physical disability, I am
seriously pissed off. I am pissed off that our government is trying to control
all of my bodily functions and strip me of all bodily autonomy. I am pissed off
that people who have no idea what my daily struggles and health concerns are
think they are more qualified to decide what is best for me than I am. More
than anything, I am pissed off that I am pissed off because I have a
pretty awesome life and I’d like to spend more time enjoying it instead of
constantly fighting.
