May 15, 2020 - 00:03
Drawing on my post from last week regarding deaf culture, I'm realizing how much I did not know about disability culture before this class, and how, if I would not have taken this class, I may have had some different opinions/viewpoints on these questions of bioethicality and disability than I do now. However, I believe that is a very important point to realize. That is, before this class, I may have been slightly confused as to why someone wouldn't want to have the chance to screen for possible genetic abnormalities, and even more confused as to why someone would want to screen to specifically choose a child who is deaf, blind, etc... However, having learned about the beauty that exists in disability culture as a whole, and the specific studies i've been doing on deaf culture specifically, I believe I have a better understanding as to why parents would intentionally choose to have a child who is deaf, blind, etc... Disability culture is such a beautiful, thriving part of so many communities around the world. One specific example from what I've been reading/working on is the way ASL poetry in disability culture requires one to rethink the definitions/ideas of what we think is right, wrong, and set in stone in life by creating a beautiful artform that is uniquely its own, outside of the mostly neurotypical culture our society lives in today. So, concisely, while I still see why one might want to screen for a child without a genetic abnormality such as deafness or blindness, (for many reasons, such as the worries of not having adequate finanancial and/or mental resources available to support a child requiring extra attention/accessibility equipment), I also see much more clearly why one who want to intentionally choose to have a child with a genetic abnormality such as deafness, blindness, ect... Deaf culture, blind culture, disability culture, etc... they all hold something unique and beautiful, and if one chooses to add a child to a family where that culture and community is supported, I believe there should be no backlash for individuals who choose to do so.