141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290846
Understanding the reproductive rights of women with intellectual disabilities under guardianship in New Mexico: Looking ahead to the next 5 years

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Priti Mehta, MPA Candidate , Center for Development and Disability, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
This presentation will explore various topic areas which surround the reproductive rights of women with intellectual disabilities who have either a guardian or conservator. The topics include the ethical, economical, moral and policy implications which surround the reproductive rights of women with intellectual disabilities. This presentation will also include feedback from current stakeholders working in the area of rights of people with disabilities in New Mexico and at national level organizations.

This topic is of significance for people with disabilities, their families and the public for various reasons. It is estimated that 1.2% of United States population has a mental disability. While the practice of forced sterilization of people with disabilities is no longer performed in the United States. It is as recently as 1983, 15 states still allowed the practice of sterilization of people with disabilities.

Currently the issue of reproductive rights and the funding of programs for people with disabilities has received much attention at the state and federal level. This presentation will focus on guardianship laws and the reproductive rights of women with intellectual disabilities in the State of New Mexico.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate understanding of guardianship laws and how they affect the reproductive rights of women with intellectual disabilities.

Keywords: Disability Policy, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Master’s in Public Administration candidate studying Health Policy at the University of New Mexico. I have been working in the area of disability for 8 years and my interests are in improving the quality of life for people living with disabilities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.