Research abstract

Dyslexia and Discrimination – UK Sperm Bank Rejects Dyslexic Donors Due to ‘Disease’

British sperm banks have the right to turn around people with conditions such as dyslexia because it could “taint” the donations. Do you agree with this practice? By Fernette Eide

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Many functional people suffer from common differences in learning and attention. These differences account for difficulties these individuals will face during their lives, but they should in no way limit their ambitions or goals. However there is one thing that is being debated about the abilities of these individuals: to donate sperm to a sperm bank. This topic is in hot contention, as many incredibly successful people would be excluded. Dyslexia and ADD are just two such things.

Amid great outcry, a UK sperm bank denied donors with dyslexia, labeling it a neurologic disease.

Many people that suffer from Dyslexia have made achievements in science and art that have benefited all human kind. There is no reason other than blatant discrimination to consider it something that would be detrimental to a person’s upbringing. Even though there may be differences in learning, the world has learned to recognize this as an asset that can be brought out by adjusting even slightly the way that these individuals are taught. Banning from sperm donation is unnecessary and wrong.

Key takeaways

  1. A UK sperm bank is being questioned for their policy of rejecting dyslexic donors.
  2. Dyslexia is a difference not a disease.
  3. To reject dyslexics is, at best, a poor application of eugenics.

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