Kallie Webster Professor Brett Campbell EDU 1400 Study of Disabilities December 4, 2013 I think my best work was

reflected in the assignment, a civic engagement. This was when we researched a social issue, and wrote a paper describing our research and took a stand on how the issue affected individuals with disabilities. I wrote about abortion. A Civic Engagement 30 November 2013 Aborting the Disabled In researching different social issues in America I decided that the issue of abortion stood out to me the most. Most people assume that women who receive abortions are those who have been raped, or even those who never wanted the baby in the first place. But going along with the social issue that impacts those with disabilities, abortion is very common in a lot of cases when there is a woman who wanted children but there has been a deformation of the fetus. which leads the to a difficult choice. " Do I keep the baby that will suffer with many hard ships, or do I terminate the pregnancy?" It has been estimated that 42 million abortions occur every year (Abortion in the First World, Jihan Thompson, Marie Claire, December 23, 2008). The laws are different in every country. For example in Japan you may abort the pregnancy within 24 weeks in order to save the mothers life, if the pregnancy was a result of rape, or if the mother can't financially support the child. In Denmark you may terminate the pregnancy without reason in the first trimester, after then only if it poses a threat to the mothers life, or fetal abnormalities. In Germany it is legal for any reason within 12 weeks, but women are subject to a 3-day waiting period, and 2 counseling sessions (Abortion in the First World, Jihan Thompson, Marie

Claire, December 23, 2008). However, in the United States, abortion is illegal in 30 states, legal if raped in 1 state, legal if the mothers life is in danger in 2 states, legal in 13 states if pregnancy is caused by incest or rape, or if fetal abnormality, and legal upon request in 4 states (prochoiceamerica.org). Holly Rossiter had previous pregnancy without any complication, and was again pregnant in july of 2006. She and her husband went to the first ultrasound at her 18 week mark. They waited to be told the sex of the baby when the nurse notice something strange and fell silent. She told Holly that her child was sick and wouldn't survive long after birth. After many tests it was discovered that the child suffered from Trisomy 13 (also known as Patau Syndrome) which causes fatal abnormalities to the fetus. She was told that only 1 out of 10,000 children are born with this disability and that 80% of infants born with this disease die within the first month of life. Although she struggled with the decision, Holly decided that termination wasn't the way she wanted to handle things, that no matter what the baby's life had meaning. when thee time came for her to deliver baby girl, Aubrielle, was breached and a cesarean section was performed. Aubrielle was alive, born at 5lbs. She only lived 4 and a half hours. Holly still felt she had done the right thing. (The Abortion Debate: What Would You Do?, Yael Kohen, Marie Claire, August 5, 2009) On the other-hand, Tricia Miller was in the same situation. Suffering herself with a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, her and her husband decided to try having children. As they too went to the first ultrasound they found that something was wrong with the fetus. after test such as a CVS (drawing a sample from the placenta), as well as many blood and amino tests they discovered that the baby had trisomy 2. It only happens in 0.0016 pregnancies, and causes severe heart, lung and brain growth abnormalities. She didn't want her child to have to suffer, so she chose abortion. Tricia chose a clinic in Dallas. She felt that she had made thee right decision, because she didn't want her baby to suffer. (The Abortion Debate: What Would You Do?, Yael Kohen, Marie Claire, August 5, 2009) In my opinion, even when faced with the chances of deformation and disabilities, I think that abortion is

never the option. If I was faced with the decision I would choose life as Holly did. Every child deserves the chance to live, even only if for a little while.