Francine is a 24-year-old young woman with severe mental disabilities. She has been that way since birth. She can only say ‘hi’ and ‘bye.’ Her mother has been taking care of her every day of her life. A few weeks before we met, her mother realized Francine hadn’t had a period in a while and that her belly was getting bigger. After a visit to their doctor’s office confirmed that Francine was pregnant, her mother also came to realize that Francine had likely been raped in her own home by someone known to her while her mother showered or did some other household task.

Luckily, Francine had a Medicaid plan that covered an abortion. Now that she is not pregnant and about to turn 25, Francine will be eligible to enter a program her mother has been waiting for: one that teaches Francine some basic activities of daily living.