FRIDA feminist disability links

for the week 4/11/2008 to 4/18/2008

In a disturbing story from Virginia, two women with disabilities, both of whom use a wheelchair, have testified that they were sexually abused by their van driver. Their male driver, who transported one of the women to adult daycare and the other to work, has been accused of sexually abusing each of the women on several ocassions.

A Scottish (UK) woman with learning difficulties living in council care, who was sexually assaulted over a period of years, was "failed by the justice system" according to a damning report released by the Mental Welfare Commission in Scotland.

Two Westport educators who face charges stemming from the alleged abuse of a 6-year-old special needs child are scheduled to return to court June 6. Ms Lind Liberty, 46, a teacher's assistant, is charged with two counts of assault and battery on a intellectually impaired child, and Ms. Renee Rego, 47, a special needs teacher, is charged with being a caretaker who wantonly commits or permits the abuse, neglect or mistreatment of a person with a disability. Their lawyers have described the accusations as baseless.

Police and the commonwealth attorney's office are investigating multiple cases of reported elder abuse at Ruxton Health of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Quebec MP Francine Lalonde, 67, is pushing ahead with plans to force the House of Commons to relaunch the debate on assisted suicide. Her bill would amend the Criminal Code to allow, under specific conditions, seriously ill people to end their lives.

The 12-member women's wheelchair basketball team that will represent the United States at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, this fall was announced last Saturday. Twenty-one wheelchair athletes from all over the country took part in the week-long selection camp, held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site at the Lakeshore Foundation.

Here is a link to information and a review about the new TV movie about the deaf, hearing divide called "Sweet Nothing in My Ear." It airs April 20, 2008, 9-11pm ET/PT on CBS.