Realising economic and social rights for children with communication and swallowing disability: Sustainable Development Goals 1, 8 and 10.

PURPOSE: This commentary describes the economic disempowerment of children with communication and/or swallowing disability and outlines why attending to their economic and social needs is essential for the realisation of the United Nations' Agenda 2030. RESULT: Children with communication and/or swallowing disability encounter intersectional disempowerment on account of both their disability, and their status as children. In particular, they experience unique barriers to the realisation of their economic and social rights. This presents a number of challenges to the realisation of Agenda 2030, and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on the broader disability rights and child rights literature, we outline these issues, and describe four empowering solutions, within the scope of this special issue commentary. CONCLUSION: We describe that speech-language pathologists must interpret the discussion of these issues as a call to action for our profession. This commentary focusses on the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of, No Poverty (SDG 1), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and also addresses the goals of Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

Right to legal capacity in therapeutic jurisprudence: Insights from critical disability theory and the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

This article addresses whether autonomy is being adequately protected within therapeutic jurisprudence models. It first outlines the history and theory of therapeutic jurisprudence - noting that protection for autonomy has been theorised as a key component of therapeutic jurisprudence. It then examines therapeutic jurisprudence in light of critical disability theory and identifies that traditional therapeutic models, which often prioritises the decision-making of professionals, can undermine the autonomy of the individual. The article then describes the protection for autonomy provided by the right to legal capacity in Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. An analysis is undertaken of practical examples of where therapeutic jurisprudence falls short of the demands of Article 12. Finally, the article presents solutions for how therapeutic jurisprudence models could better protect autonomy via respect for the right to legal capacity in Article 12.

Gendered denials: Vulnerability created by barriers to legal capacity for women and disabled women.

This article explores the vulnerability that is created when legal capacity is denied to women and disabled women. It argues that vulnerability is largely contingent on social constructs - as opposed to being an inherent quality of disability or gender. It discusses barriers to the exercise of legal capacity that women and disabled women experience - such as limitations on reproductive choice, higher rates of substituted decision-making, and unique experiences with forced mental health treatment. It then explores evidence that such barriers are disempowering and can leave women and disabled women vulnerable to abuse and marginalisation. It explores financial, physical and sexual abuse that can occur as a result of this vulnerability. Finally, it concludes that autonomy and power are inextricably linked and can be essential for minimising vulnerability.