Family Law, Parents with Disabilities, and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Date01 January 2019
Published date01 January 2019
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12396
AuthorRobyn M. Powell
FAMILY LAW, PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Robyn M. Powell
Parents with disabilities contend with bias within the family law system, often threatening their custody and visitation rights.
The overarching goal of this article is to explore the experiences of parents with disabilities involvedin custody and visitation
disputes and the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in these cases. This article begins with an over-
view of parents with disabilities and their interactions with the family law system. Next, the article examines the ADA and
its applicability to custody and visitation disputes. Finally, the article offers thoughts about strategies that can be utilized by
attorneys to ensure that the rights of parents with disabilities are protected.
Key Points for the Family Court Community:
Parents with disabilities experience signicant discrimination within the family law system.
The ADA is relevant to custody and visitation disputes and can be used in certain circumstances to protect the rights
of parents with disabilities.
The legal profession must understand the ADA and its application to the family law system.
Keywords: Americanswith Disabilities Act; Custody;Disability Rights; Family Law; Parents with Disabilities; and Visitation.
I. INTRODUCTION
In 2009, Kaney ONeill, a quadriplegic mother and veteran, confronted an unanticipated ght
when the father of her son, whom she was estranged from, led for custody of their ten-week-old
son.
1
Contending that ONeill was not a t and proper personto care for their son and that her
disability greatly limits her ability to care for the minor, or even wake up if the minor is
distressed,the father sought full-time custody of the child.
2
To refute the fathers assertions,
ONeill pointed to her preparation for motherhood, including adapting her home, obtaining adapted
parenting equipment, and receiving assistance from family members and paid personal assistants.
3
The ght to retain custody endured for more than a year and ended with an agreement that granted
the father visitation rights.
4
Although ONeill was pleased with the outcome of the case, she told
reporters that she was disappointed that the courts allow for someone to question your ability to
have custody based on your disability.
5
Similarly, in 2017, Richard Cachola, a veteran with posttraumati c stress disorder (PTSD), found
himself ghting to retain custody of his three children after refusing to proffer his mental health
records to the court.
6
Prior to this custody dispute, Cachola and his ex-wife shared custody of
their children.
7
However, as relationship difculties between Cachola and his ex-wife escalated,
his ex-wife led for full custody, citing his PTSD diagnosis as one reason.
8
Notably, the court
records indicated no signs of violence; My PTSD has no relationship to my ability to be a
father,Cachola told reporters.
9
Ultimately, the court denied the ex-wifes request for full custody
of their children.
10
Nevertheless, the ex-wife was awarded th e nal decision-making authority for
the children.
11
Corresponding: rpowell@brandeis.edu
FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 57 No. 1, January 2019 3753
© 2019 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
While dissimilar in some respects, ONeills and Cacholas respective cases elucidate a common
and continuing phenomenon affecting parents with diverse disabilitiesincluding intellectual and
developmental disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, and sensory disabilities
across the United States and beyond.
12
Indeed, parents with disabilities contend with substantial
and persistent bias within the family law system, often threatening their custody and visitation
rights.
13
Notably, although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
14
was signed into law nearly thirty
years ago, this comprehensive civil rights law has done little to protect the parenting rights of peo-
ple with disabilities, particularly in the area of family law.
15
Undeniably, there are only limited cir-
cumstances in which the ADA can be leveraged in custody and visitation disputes. Nonetheless, I
contend that, when used properly, the ADA can serve as an important tool in family law attorneys
toolboxes. Hence, it is critical for family law practitioners to comprehensively understand the ADA,
including both its strengths and limitations.
This article examines the experiences of parents with disabilities involved in custody and visita-
tion disputes and the application of the ADA in these cases. Part II provides an overview of parents
with disabilities and their interactions with the family law system. Next, Part III examines the ADA
and its applicability to custody and visitation disputes vis-à-vis individualized treatment, courtroom
accessibility, accessible and appropriate parenting evaluations, and legal obligations of attorneys.
Part IV concludes by highlighting strategies that can be utilized by attorneys to ensure that the
rights of parents with disabilities are protected.
II. FAMILY LAW AND PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The best interests standardexplicitly used as the standard for adjudicating childrens interests in pro-
ceedings evaluating parental care[] is not properly a standard. Instead, it is a rationalization by decision-
makers justifying their judgments about a childs future, like an empty vessel into which adult percep-
tions and prejudices are poured.
Hillary Rodham
16
The United States has a long and tragic history of preventing people with disabilities from creating
and maintaining families, based on deeply held presumptions about the parental tness of disabled
parents.
17
Compulsory sterilizationsrooted in eugenics ideologiesgrew in popularity in the
United States and elsewhere throughout the twentieth century and proffered a legal means to con-
strain people with disabilities, namely intellectual and psychiatric disabilities, and others deemed
unt from procreating.
18
Over time, forced sterilizations decreased and the curtailment of the rights
of disabled people to form families grew into laws that restricted marriage.
19
Although neither prac-
tice has been wholly eliminated, today the belief that people with disabilities should not have chil-
dren is manifested through discriminatory child welfare, family law, adoption, and reproductive
health care policies and practices that presume parental untness.
20
This part explores the evolution
of parenting rights for people with disabilities as well as the contemporary experiences of parents
with disabilities and their families. Thereafter, this part describes the family law system and exam-
ines the experiences of parents with disabilities when they interact with the family law system,
including its inherent bias toward these families.
A. PARENTING WITH A DISABILITY: AN EVOLUTION OF RIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES
Shamefully, the United States has a tragic history of implementing policies and practices that
restrict people with disabilities from forming families. The eugenics movement began in the early
twentieth century and resulted in those deemed socially inadequate,
21
particularly women with
intellectual or psychiatric disabilities, undergoing forced sterilizations.
22
Rooted in the idea that the
human race [could] be gradually improved and social ills simultaneously eliminated through a
38 FAMILY COURT REVIEW

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT