Disability Rights and Wrongs

‘Encounters with Experience’: Empirical Bioethics and the Future

“…For me, primarily a philosopher, this phrase sums up perfectly what empirical bioethics is about. It is about philosophers 'getting their hands dirty', getting out of their Platonic ivory tower, and acknowledging that ethics is about people, not just good arguments [15]. It is about having 'encounters with experience', and using those encounters to inform one's philosophy.…”

Best Interests: Puzzles and Plausible Solutions at the End of Life

“…This is of course complex and contested ground. There is a sophisticated line of criticism for example within Disability Studies which disputes the medical model implied by the brief account of the quality of life given here [19]. However I raise these issues only to establish the plausibility that judgements concerning best interests are directly and indirectly related to axiological theories.…”

The Shaping of Sexuality in Children with Disabilities: A Q Methodological Study

“…Shakespeare [11] argues that the constant devaluing of people with disabilities and their bodies results in low levels of self-esteem and an avoidance of sexual expression. The fact that people with disabilities are excluded from a great deal of social interaction through practices of segregation or inaccessibility means that their chances of learning more about sexuality and finding sexual partners are reduced [12].…”

“…They find themselves isolated from their peers and tend to spend more time with younger children or with adults [8,11]. They are up to 2-3 times more likely than children without disabilities to experience sexual abuse [8].…”