Our Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

Seeing the news of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade has brought up many difficult feelings. We are angry, saddened, sickened, and heartbroken that politicians believe they should have the right to make decisions about a person’s reproductive healthcare.

The decision to have an abortion is not an easy one, but each person with the ability to bear children has the right to come to that decision based on their own values, health needs, financial situation, and any other factors that may influence a healthcare decision. Extinguishing the right to safe abortions will impact our most vulnerable communities the most, including people with disabilities.

Historically, people with disabilities have been denied bodily autonomy through the use of forced sterilization (still legal in 31 states and the District of Columbia), eugenics, guardianship, limited access to healthcare and abortions, limited access to maternal care, institutionalization, sexual violence, and denied right to parent based on ableist assumptions. Politicians have tried to use abortion of fetuses with disabilities as a reason to end abortion, but the disability rights movement has been intricately tied to the reproductive rights movement and supports access to safe abortions.

At Heart, we provide education, advocacy, and support to Autistic and neurodivergent people, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, around safe sexuality. We will continue to advocate with our elected officials and raise up the voices of people we support. We will continue to provide neurodivergent affirmative therapy to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. We will continue to provide every resource available to address inequity in reproductive healthcare. But we need your help. We need you to use your anger, your frustration, your sadness, and your compassion to fight for everyone’s right to reproductive freedom. It may feel like there’s nothing you can do, but your voice matters. And your vote matters. You can also support grassroots organizations that increase access to reproductive healthcare such as Women’s Medical Fund.

And to all the neurodivergent people who once again are faced with restrictions on their reproductive freedoms, we stand by you. You matter, your rights matter, and you are not alone.

Ellen Merker

Executive Director