33. Genetics, Ethics, and the History of Developmental Disabilities/Eugenics

This lecture reviews the history of the modern eugenics movement from the early 20th century to current prenatal testing technologies. Many of these genetic technologies to “control breeding” and eliminate people with “undesirable traits” have emerged at the same time as the deinstitutionalization and subsequent civil rights movements for people with disabilities. Explore ideas about how to ethically approach the schism between genetic testing and the disability rights movement and current efforts toward that goal.

Stephanie Meredith