Disabled people have long been discriminated against when it comes to marriage. While marriage is a fundamental human right, it is systematically denied to those with disabilities. However, there are partial solutions to the problem. First of all, a disabled person should not have to choose between a long-term relationship and the ability to qualify for Medicaid health care. This is a violation of the fundamental right to marry and is inconsistent with the policies governing disability and marriage.
The marriage penalty is a form of institutionalized ableism that prevents people with disabilities from starting families. The origins of this practice are unclear, but many disability rights activists trace its roots to the eugenics movement, which continued to gain popularity in the early 1900s. During that time, forced sterilization was practiced against the wishes of disabled people, and the government sought to segregate people with disabilities from the rest of the population.
In response to this issue, some people have begun petitioning the federal government to repeal the D.A.C. marriage rule. The Biden administration and Congress have promised to repeal the penalty, allowing disabled people to marry. The goal is to make the marriage process easier for people with disabilities. They should not have to face these hurdles alone. By working together, Congress can make this change.
Another reason for the marriage penalty is that couples with disabilities lose their eligibility for government programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. These government programs are not meant to be handouts, and they don’t exist to grant free money to people with disabilities. However, most people will experience some form of disability during their lifetime. It is also important to remember that marriage and disability do not end once the couple says “I do.”
