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The League of the Physically Handicapped
Group of New Yorkers that fought for employment during the Great Depression. -
We Are Not Alone
Group of psychiatric patients form a group to help patients in their transition from the hopsital to community. -
President Truman forms the National Institute of Mental Health
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National Association for Retarded Children (NARC)
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President Kennedy's planning committees
President Kennedy organized several planning committees to treat and research disability. -
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Ed Roberts and the Rolling Quads fight for accessibility in the University of California
Ed Roberts began classes at the University of California in 1962, however there was no housing for disabled students, so they just lived in the Student Health Service infirmary, a part of the Cowell Hospital. Eventually, he and a group of those students fought for change, to make the school more accessible. After their success, they formed the The Center of Independent Living, Inc. -
First Center for Independent Living established in Berkeley, California by Ed Roberts and the Rolling Quads
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Rehabilitation Act
Section 501 supports people with disabilities in the federal workplace and any federal tax funded org. 503 supports employment and education for members of traditionally disadvantaged minority groups. 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the workplace, their programs, and activities. 508 guarantees equal or comparable access to technological information and data. The regulations for Section 504 were written but not implemented. -
The Education of All Handicapped Children Act
The 1975 Education of All Handicapped Children Act guaranteed children with disabilities the right to public school education. -
Section 504 was signed by President Carter after protests
The disability rights community demanded that President Carter sign the regulations. Instead, a task force was appointed to review them. The American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (ACCD) insisted they be enacted as written by 5 April, or they would take action. Since they weren't signed, sit-ins at federal offices of Health, Education, and Welfare began. In San Francisco, the sit-in at the Federal Building lasted until April 28, when the regulations were finally signed, unchanged. -
Deaf President Now
Students at Gallaudet University led the "Deaf President Now" protest. Students made several demands, calling for a Deaf president and majority Deaf population on the Board of Trustees. The protests lasted a week and ultimately led to the appointment of Dr. I. King Jordan as president. -
Capitol Crawl
Passage of the ADA had stalled due to issues around transportation. Public transit companies fought against the regulations for accessibility, and their lobbying efforts slowed the process. In response, a group with disabilities headed for the Capitol. They tossed aside their wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches and ascended the steps. By dragging themselves up the stairs, the protesters expressed the struggles they face due to physical barriers and highlighted the need for accessibility. -
American With Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA is a major civil rights law that prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities in many aspects of public life. -
ADA Amendments Act
Amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to redefine the term "disability," including by defining "major life activities" and "being regarded as having such an impairment." -
Summary
Over the 73 years covered in this timeline, a lot of progress has been made for the disabled community. There are smaller things like self help groups, and bigger things such as job opportunity, accessibility to places and transportation, and government representation. Due to many efforts, a lot has changed systemically. Socially speaking, the way disabilities are viewed has definitely changed for the better, but there's still a lot of room for improvement.