Human Rights Syllabi: Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley

McMaster University

Theme School International Justice and Human Rights

Human Rights and Disability/Human Rights Learning Problems

Winter Session 1998 - TSIJHR 3I03 -Wednesday 6:30 - 9:30 pm - OT/PT Building T-16, Room 131 Mary Tremblay

Prepared by: Dr. Mary Tremblay PhD, O.T. (C)
Associate Professor
School of Rehabilitation Science
E-mail: tremblay@mcmaster.ca
Phone: 525-9140, Ext. 27822
Copyright 1998 Canada

Case # 5. Janice Watson

Janice is a young woman 28 years of age. She has been diagnosed as being developmentally delayed as a young child. She was educated in a special school for handicapped children and then for several years, when abandoned by her family, brought up in an institution for the retarded.

When she was 18 she was able to leave the institution and moved to a group home. The staff in the home are concerned that she may become sexually active and pregnant. They are encouraging her to be sterilized. You have recently become involved with the home as a _______________. What advice would you offer Janice?

After initially discussing this problem view, class can view the videotape Towards Intimacy,it takes approximately 60 minutes, either in class or at another time.

Some sample issues to consider:

• Would your advice to Janice change if she did not have a mental impairment?
• Why? What if she had a physical or sensory impairment?
• Does Janice have a right to have children?
• Does this right vary across Canadian provinces?
• Would this right change if Janice had been born in China, India, Sweden, or another country of your choice _________________?

Suggested Readings:

• McLaren,A. 1990.Our Own Master Race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945.McClelland & Stewart Inc., Toronto.
• Pernick,M.S. 1996.The Black Stork: Eugenics and the Death of "Defective" Babies in American Medicine.Oxford University Press, New York.

To the main description of class: Human Rights and Disability

To Human Rights Syllabi Table of Contents