Overview and Summary: Addressing Disabilities in Healthcare

Abstract

Eleven years ago, after a monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy that included twin-twin transfusion syndrome, selective intrauterine growth restriction, fetoscopic laser photocoagulation surgery, and finally preterm birth, I found myself mother to two very tiny and premature twin girls. Several years later I would further learn that one twin also has a previously unknown genetic difference which has caused additional health conditions and disabilities. Consequently, my introduction to motherhood also included a crash course in the navigation of the medical system in a space that is established for the “normate,” or the typical body (Garland-Thomson, 1997).