Trouble Is Everywhere

I was in law school when the case came to my attention. Since it was not the first time I'd heard of that phenomenon, I did a research project on prosecution and sentencing of people who kill their disabled children. To absolutely no one's surprise -- no one in the disability community, that is -- I found that parents who kill disabled children are less likely to be investigated, prosecuted, tried or sentenced for their crimes. When they are sentenced, their punishments are symbolic (suspended sentences or probation) or minimal (one or two years). I have continued to follow this kind of case when I hear about them, and the trend has not changed.

When I try to write about it, I often find myself too enraged to think straight, not a good thing for an activist. It also burns me that other people just don't feel it the way I do.