Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) and Advocacy for Inclusion (AFI) are pleased to
be making a joint submission to the inquiry into abortion and reproductive choice in the
ACT. Access to healthcare and bodily autonomy are human rights; equitable access to
abortion and reproductive health care for women* with disabilities is part of achieving
these rights in the ACT.
Women throughout this submission refers to women, girls, nonbinary and feminine
identifying people.
Our main priorities for the Inquiry are the enactment of strict safeguards to support
women* with disabilities to make decisions about terminations free from coercion and
abuse. Allied to this we identify the need to ensure barrier free access to clinics for
abortion and reproductive healthcare, access to transport and access to medications. We
are conscious that there are tensions between expanding access and managing the risk of
coercion and these need to be well managed. We are also keen for discussions around
reproductive choices to be framed in ways that do not stigmatise people with disability.
You can read the full submission below.