Our project explores the ethical and legal dimensions of applying gene-editing technologies to intellectual disability. We focus in particular on intellectual disability related to autism, which is often portrayed as an “undesirable” trait. At the same time, many autistic individuals live fulfilling lives and view autism as an integral part of their identity.

The website is organized into four main sections:

1. Technical foundations – an overview of CRISPR and the biological mechanisms through which disabilities can potentially be edited.

2. Legal implications – an examination of how emerging genetic technologies intersect with medical law and regulation.

3. Ethical considerations – a discussion of disability, gene editing, and broader sociological frameworks, grounded in scientific codes of conduct.

4. Expert perspectives – interviews with scholars from bioethics, law, computer science, disability studies, and related fields.

A central goal of this project is to highlight the responsibility of computer scientists and technologists: before advancing gene-editing applications, they must fully engage with the ethical and social implications to prevent harm and ensure responsible innovation.

We also emphasize several core values that inform this work:

• Disability leadership – people with disabilities must be at the forefront of shaping decisions in this area.

• Equity and non-discrimination – protections must exist to prevent new forms of genetic- or disability-based discrimination.

• Autonomy – individuals should be empowered to make informed choices about their own bodies.

• Respect for human dignity – every life holds inherent worth, regardless of disability status.