People With Autism Have Right to Autonomy Too

Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge, gives the keynote address during a special event held to mark World Autism Awareness Day. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeBy Lyndal RowlandsUNITED NATIONS, Apr 2 2017 (IPS)Guardianship laws meant to protect people with autism actually deprive them of their basic rights and autonomy, according to experts on a UN panel.When people with autism turn 18, their parents or other caregivers are encouraged to legally become their guardians. However, as Zoe Gross an autism self-advocate says the practice deprives people with autism of the ability to influence their own lives.Gross was one of several panelists at a special event held to ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on the theme ‘Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination” at UN headquarters in New York on Friday.The laws affect all aspects of a persons life, says Gross:“Where you live, where you work, who you spend time with, whether you want to get married or have children, even whether to have medical procedures.” “Regardless of whether your guardian is acting in your best interests or not, if you are under guardianship you don’t have access to the same rights that most adults take for granted,” -- Zoe Gross, Autism Self Advocate.In some states, people under guardianship lose the right to vote while in extreme cases Gross says that people under guardianship have been forced to undergo involuntary sterilisation.“Regardless of ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Featured Headlines Health Human Rights IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse TerraViva United Nations Disability World Autism Awareness Day Source Type: news