— Made by young people, for young people
Ride the Wave: Youth Resource Guide
About the WAVE Project
The Youth Wants, Attitudes, Values, and Expectations (WAVE) around bodily autonomy, gender, and abortion policy was a youth-co-designed qualitative research project. Ci3 interviewed 40 young people living in the Midwest about their thoughts and perceptions around bodily autonomy, gender, and abortion policy.
The Ci3 team and Ci3 Youth Fellows created this guide from that research. The purpose of the “Ride the Wave Guide” is to provide information and resources that participants have highlighted during the WAVE interviews
The Guide
Will you be 18 by the date of the election you would like to vote in?
Just because you can’t vote doesn’t mean you can’t be involved.
- Find out what local or national elections are happening near you. Research different candidates – each candidate will have their policy objectives on their webpage – and volunteer for a campaign you are excited about.
- Help your family and/or friends register to vote. More information is available here.
- Advocate for issues that are important to you. You can do this by attending a local rally or protest, posting on social media, signing petitions, or talking to those around you about the issue.
Are you registered to vote?
No problem! You can register below.
- Some things to keep in mind: You will need some type of ID (social security card, driving permit, drivers license, passport, etc.) and you may need a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, or government check that has both your name and address on it. In most cases you will only need this piece of mail if your ID does not have your address on it. If you are hoping to vote in a specific upcoming election, check voter registration deadlines to ensure you can register in time (usually you must register 2 weeks before the election)
- Select below which state you would like to register in. If you are a college student living in a different state from your permanent home address, you can choose which state you would like to register to vote in (but you can only be registered in one state)
- Once registered, if you would like more information one when , where, and how to vote, click here.
Awesome! You can check on upcoming local elections below.
- Remember, many states will let you vote by mail, which may be an easier option if you are working or are out-of-state in school. The links below should have more information on requesting a mail ballot.
- If you are voting in person, double-check the voting center you should visit (information in the links below).
It’s hard to find good sources on abortion, abortion stories, and abortion access…
So we’ve put together some sources to get you started!
Abortion Access is a big topic – what kind of questions do you have?
There are 2 main types of abortion methods: medical and procedural
Medical: Medical abortion or the abortion pill is a regiment of either Misoprostol and Mifepristone or just Misoprostol. This abortion method is available via telehealth in many states. To learn more about telehealth abortion, see Abortionfinders.org’s FAQ here. In the United States, medical abortion has been approved up to 10 weeks of gestation. To learn more about what to expect from a medical abortion, click here.
Procedural: Procedural abortion encompasses several protocols – all of which must occur in the clinic. This method of abortion is approved for use until individual state governments put on gestational limits. To learn more about what to expect from a procedural abortion, click here.
If you want to read about some first-hand experiences check out r/abortion .
Where is abortion legal?
The legal status of abortion in the Midwest is a sometimes confusing landscape. Ci3’s page: Illinois Abortion Research has up-to-date information on abortion in the Midwest. Further, abortionfinder.org has a current list of policies and open clinics in the US.
Midwestern states where abortion is legal: Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas, and Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Midwestern states where abortion is under a total ban: Missouri, Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Indiana.
Midwestern states with gestational limits or bans under litigation: Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska.
I want to know more about accessing an abortion.
The Ryan Center, the Univeristy of Chicago, provides abortion care up until 23 weeks 6 days of gestation. To learn more, click here.
There are a few things to consider when accessing an abortion in the Midwest:
Gestational Age & Abortion
The Ryan Center, the Univeristy of Chicago, provides abortion care up until 23 weeks 6 days of gestation. To learn more, click here.
Gestational Age: Gestational Age is calculated based on your last menstrual period (this may be before the actual pregnancy occurs). Gestational age is important because it can dictate which state you can receive your abortion and the type of abortion you are eligible for. To get help calculating your gestational age, click here.
Home State & Abortion Care
The Ryan Center, the Univeristy of Chicago, provides abortion care up until 23 weeks 6 days of gestation. To learn more, click here.
Home State: Your home state will affect telehealth options, insurance coverage, under-18 care, and gestational age when seeking abortion care. Navigate to abortionfinder.org to find up-to-date information on your state.
Illinois and Minnesota are the only midwestern states that allow Medicaid insurance to cover abortion.
Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio allow 21+ gestational week procedures.
Ilinois and Minnesota are the only midwestern states that do not require a waiting period before the appointment.
Cost & Abortion
The Ryan Center, the Univeristy of Chicago, provides abortion care up until 23 weeks 6 days of gestation. To learn more, click here.
Cost: Seeking abortion care can be expensive, especially if you need to travel out of state. To find local funds to help support you accessing abortion care, check at the National Network of Abortion Funds.
Under 18 & Abortion Care
The Ryan Center, the Univeristy of Chicago, provides abortion care up until 23 weeks 6 days of gestation. To learn more, click here.
Under 18: If you are under 18, you may need parent/guardian consent or a judicial bypass, depending on your state. If you do not want to notify a parent/guardian or go through the judicial bypass process, you can travel to a state where this is not required for minors.
Illinois and Minnesota are the only states in the Midwest where parental/guardian consent or notification isn’t required.
For more information on parent/guardian consent and notification implications, check out Adolescents and Abortion Restrictions: Disproportionate Burdens and Critical Warnings.
For help in navigating parent/guardian consent or notification, contact Judicial Bypass Helpline.