People with learning disabilities – COVID-19 Support and Action Group
Wednesday 29 June 2022
Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Meeting ID: 974 7117 3675
1. Present
Charles Firielle Chris
Geraldine Ray Jenny
Russell Kweku Philipa
Vicky Olcay
Lorena Sam Sarah
Chris Gary
2. Apologies: Kieran Andrew
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Charles and Lorena welcomed everyone. Charles said a lot of people are unable to make today’s meeting so it’s a small group. He asked what everyone has been up to. |
We all shared what we had been up to and how we were.
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Chris’s artwork from last week.
Ray spoke about all of the things he has been doing, including going to the cinema to see Jurassic World.
Russell, Sam and Sarah have all had their hair done. Phil and Sarah have both had COVID.
Kweku had been to the Houses of Parliament to meet his MP.
Firielle spoke about her time in Palestine and the play she was performing in. She is also studying dancing.
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Lorena said she had a lovely week. Some of her work has been in an exhibition using pictures instead of words in research.
Charles said he had been fine but shared some personal worries about the future without his mum.
We agreed to have a session to talk about losing our parents.
Sarah suggested connecting with The Death Café
https://deathcafe.com/
They run discussion groups about death.
Their
objective is 'to
increase awareness of
death with a view to helping
people make the most of
their (finite) lives'.
3. Discussion: Human Rights
We started by reading some of the news
In England the laws are made by Parliament. In
USA the Supreme Court make the laws. In1973 there
was a case called Roe versus Wade.
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right. They have States can now women have the happens when
This gives the make abortions. It is States will do
The Supreme Court ruled that the rights of women to choose whether they have an abortion is protected.
Recently this has been reviewed by the Supreme Court and over-ruled that
decided that the USA
decide whether
right to choose what
they are pregnant.
States the ability to restrictions and ban expected that half the this.
Heidi Crowter’s case is arguing that no woman should be able to decide to have an abortion, based on disability, after 24 weeks. This is about ‘equality in the womb’ for disabled people.
Statistics are low for the number of abortions after 24 weeks; less than 1%. There are some conditions and situations that are very complicated and dangerous.
It’s very complicated and many people are worried that it is a start to restrict women’s rights.
Chris said that it should be about disability discrimination not restricting women’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies.
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We also discussed how these decisions can take us back in time to ‘back street abortions,’ and higher risks for women.
There are very few people with Down Syndrome in Iceland. This is because nearly all pregnant women who have a test for Down Syndrome go on to have a termination.
Chris produced a powerful image about ‘allowing guns but banning abortions’.
He also shared a photo of his father who died 8 years ago.
Phil suggested we bring photos when we talk about our parents.
Next meeting:
Wednesday 6th July 2022 12:30pm - 2:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675
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Chris’s Artwork
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