In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) reaffirms our commitment to protect and advance the fundamental rights of people with disabilities. Disability communities have long faced systemic violations of bodily autonomy including forced sterilization and increased rates of sexual violence. The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs disproportionately impacts people with disabilities who already face significant barriers accessing healthcare, especially people with disabilities from communities of color, who identify as LGBTQIA+, immigrants, and those who live in poverty.
We are concerned about the decision’s implications which may lead to further removal of longstanding constitutional rights that people have come to rely and build their lives upon for decades. The Dobbs decision, leaves other civil rights, including the ability to choose who a person marries or has a relationship with, and access to other forms of reproductive health care, in jeopardy.
Whenever people with disabilities’ civil rights are threatened, we stand ready to defend these challenges. DRM remains steadfast in our dedication to advancing equality and self-determination for people with disabilities and zealously advocating for a world in which fundamental rights are guaranteed for everyone.
