Ms Selina Bonnie:

I wish to address not only the subject of reproductive justice but also to home in on the issue of ableist attitudes and their impact. As a woman, I have experienced them throughout my journey to motherhood. Sometimes people presume that I, as a disabled person, do not have a sexuality or that having it is a problem. Additionally, if people do presume that I am a sexual being, they quite often then do not presume that I might want to become a parent or that I should become a parent at any stage. There are these ableist attitudes as well.

For example, it is often presumed that, due to a person's impairment, he or she could not possibly support and look after a child? They are coming at it from the point of view of being on the outside looking in on a disabled person and presuming ability. I had the experience where a doctor wanted a guarantee from me that I would not have a disabled child or the doctor would not consider me for IVF. I feel that was a very ableist attitude because who in this world can guarantee they will not have a disabled child?

Ableist attitudes are or can be also very damaging when we are looking at legislation and post-legislation. When it comes to, say, looking at criteria for an intending parent or the issue of the welfare of the child, if there is not enough guidance and if they are not understanding of issues such as ableism and harmful presumptions, the people who are making those decisions can put their own beliefs into their decision-making process. That would be a concern of mine on how ableist attitudes can continue to harm.

I will make one other point about intersectionality. I am a disabled woman but what if I was a disabled LGBTQ woman who wanted to go down the route of parenthood and needed assistance? Not only would I have the possibility of encountering discrimination due to ableist attitudes but all the other aspects of discrimination may be there as well. It is a very complex issue. When we are looking at ableism, we also need to look at intersectionality and the impact of not recognising and planning for that.