Column: Is turning right on a red light your California birthright? Absolutely not! The state legislature, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a judge and even some lawmakers are fighting the right of a woman who uses a wheelchair to turn right on red.
When I was 19, I became disabled after a car accident. Because I was physically assaulted and paralyzed, I left school early and began working as a waitress at a nightclub. My life was changing, and I experienced the freedom of being able to go out in public without fear of harassment, physical attack or violence.
My mom enrolled me in physical therapy because she wanted the best for me. Once I was able to walk again, I joined the women’s rights movement. I spoke with women from around the country — the women I saw on the street, at the gym and in the kitchen. I learned that our experiences would shape our lives.
The women of the Women’s Human Rights Movement (WHRM) understand the importance of the state’s recognizing the civil and legal rights of women and girls within the framework of equality for women and girls. The Women’s Human Rights Movement of California was founded in 1995 by members of the Women’s Bar Association of California to promote the legal and civil rights of women — including the right to vote and have the power to make reproductive and reproductive health decisions regarding their own bodies.
As you can see, there is considerable overlap between the rights of women and the rights of people with disabilities. In order to ensure that people with disabilities have civil and legal rights on par with women and girls, we need to protect that space.
I have a disability and I’ve been disabled for the past 14 years. I was born with cerebral palsy and have some other issues, but all of those disabilities didn’t stop me from being a fully functioning human being. And I believe that as people with disabilities, we have the