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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Public health emergency efforts, such as epidemics, have historically overlooked the
contracting certain diseases where applicable. Public health agencies have gone so far as
to produce HIV/AIDS materials (a similar crisis) that are not available to deaf and blind
individuals. The Zika crisis provides us with an impactful opportunity to be inclusive and
equitable in our treatment of disability in public health. This work is especially timely in
the context of federal disinvestment in upholding the ADA, and California as a state has
the agency to set a positive example. This report outlines and evaluates a few options for
THE PROBLEM
As no official Zika vaccine has been found (WHO), the primary measure to prevent the
spread of Zika is to prevent it from spreading sexually, and the primary manifestation of
Zika in infected mothers is children with microcephaly. This has led to the perpetuation
people to make decisions to prevent the spread of Zika, or using the threat of giving birth
inconsistent for health agencies to treat microcephaly as a worst-case scenario but then
claim that children born with microcephaly to live with dignity, (Dr. Victor Pineda, UC
Berkeley) there is now an opportunity for public health efforts to heed the disability
rights movement, and to encourage reproductive justice advocates, public health and
family planning services and disability rights advocates to cooperate on this emerging
issue. How microcephaly is framed in the context of Zika will continue to reflect and
define public health and infectious disease works relationship with disability unless
we intervene.
GOALS
The goals of all interventions and policy options presented will be to reshape the Zika
CRITERIA
We are evaluating solutions to the issue stated above on the basis of three criteria: equity
(how much it supports people with disabilities, including microcephaly, to enter the
mainstream), cost (how much it will cost in order to implement the solution), and
chose these criteria because we wanted to balance a commitment to equity with the
POLICY ACTIONS
The options presented are based off of a combination of interviews with disability rights
Healths Zika task force, and a family planning center, and online research.
Option B: Support in early childhood for children born with microcephaly (due to Zika or
otherwise).
A: The current framing Cost: This is the most cost- Equity: This option has
surrounding microcephaly effective of all of the symbolic benefits for equity,
and Zika, according to the options, as it only requires but does little for the actual
CDC website, is that the changes in language for all experience of those living
CDC continues to study printed materials going with microcephaly or other
birth defects, such as forward disability, and does little to
microcephaly, and how to advance the aims of the
prevent them. We suggest Feasibility: It is also the disability rights movement.
that such language is most feasible, as the Inclusivity is a step but does
reframed as follows: language needs only to be not in and of itself constitute
approved before materials equity and full integration.
Zika can cause can be changed with If anything, it is a step
microcephaly in babies minimal effort. towards more mindful
born to infected mothers. public health efforts.
While we recognize the
strain on mothers who are
unable to meet the needs of
children born with
microcephaly, we are
committed to supporting
these children and their
mothers while we work to
mitigate the spread of
Zika.
B: Reinforces ADA Title II Equity: This is the most Cost: Upholding the ADA
and IDEA provisions in comprehensive measure of in the classroom is the most
education for children the options present. This cost-intensive, because it
growing up with disability; measure adopts the Social involves wide-scale
namely those that provide Model of disability, implementation and follow-
access in schools. Also allowing children born with up over a long period of
provides for additional microcephaly to live their time (policy change is slow
funding for early lives with dignity, and and incremental)
intervention. giving them critical support
they need in their early lives Feasibility: This option is
http://www.parentcenterhu in order to have a better also the least certain in
RECOMMENDATIONS
reframing Zika education and awareness materials while working to establish more
long-term supports for children born with microcephaly. This is, by far, the most
successful approach across equity, feasibility and cost, as it most effectively addresses the
hypocrisy and erasure perpetuated by public health efforts. If possible, this will be most
successful at increasing equity and inclusion of persons with disabilities when paired
state. However, family planning services may follow the narrative set by public health
agencies, so the administrative effort is least worth the cost and should only be
implemented if the symbolic language changes alone do not bring about changes in the