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“If this bill passes, some people’s lives will be ended without their consent, through mistakes and abuse. No safeguards have ever been enacted or proposed that can prevent this outcome, which can never be undone.”
– Marilyn Golden, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
ntroduction
The purpose of this Toolkit is to give disability rights advocates an organized set of resources to assist in defeating proposals to legalize assisted suicide in state legislatures. The Toolkit is divided into seven brief sections, each consisting of basic information and links to related resources with more information. The seven sections are:
- Why disability advocacy groups oppose legalizing assisted suicide
- Educating and organizing disability opposition
- Meeting with legislators and policy leaders
- Testifying at hearings
- Working with the media
- Conducting direct actions – leafleting, rallying
- Working in coalition
All of the major national disability groups that have taken a position on assisted suicide oppose bills to legalize the practice as a matter of public policy. The disability role in defeating these bills has increased in visibility and importance in the last few years as both media and various stakeholders have acknowledged our effectiveness. It is critical that our voice be heard wherever assisted suicide bills are introduced and considered.
