History Of accessibility developments
disability rights movements 1960,70,80,90
In the 1960s, civil rights movement inspired the disability rights movement, with advocates calling for equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities.
In the 70s, there was a passage of several key pieces of legislation, including the rehabilitation act of 1973, and the Education for all handicapped children act of 1975
By 1990s, the ADA became a law, providing comprehensive civil rights protections for people with disabilities.
#Cripthevote
We do encourage everyone interested and working in the overlap between disability politics, and policy to continue using #crip the vote to get their ideas and work seena dn engaged with for as long as they think it is helpful.
As always, that includes any individuals, organizations, journalists, and politicians and elected officials interested in disability policy.
Section 504 Sit-In
Section 504 was based on the language fo previous civil rights laws that protected women & minorities. It recognized that society has historically treated people with disabilities as second- class citizens based on deeply held fears and stereotypes that go way back.
“No otherwise qualified individual witha disability in the United states,” Section 504 of that law reads, “shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity recieving federal financial assistance”
Critically acclaimed authors & Activists
Juduth heumann
Internationally recognized disability activate. she served in the Clinton and Obama administration and was a senior fellow at the ford foundation.
Judy is the producer of the he-man perspective, a podcast and YouTube channel that aims to share the beauty of the disability community.
Ed roberts
In 1976 Roberts was appointed director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, an agency that in 1962 had deemed Roberts too disabled to hold a job. As a director, he facilitated the establishment of independent living centers throughout the state.
He also traveled to lobby for disability rights in the United States and around the world. After his death, a center for people with disabilities was created in Berkeley and Hamed for him.
Roberts contracted polio at age 14 and was paralyzed from the neck down. requiring an iron lung or respirator to breathe.
Johnnie lacy
Johnnie Lacy was a black disability rights activist integral to the independent living movement. Through her activism she brought to light the intersectionality of race and disability and worked to tackle ableism in the black community and racism in the largely white-dominated disability community.
Born in 1937, lacy attended segregated elementary schools in the south before her family moved to California when she was 10.
Brad Lomax
A civil rights leader and disability rights activist, brought together the two movements to present a united front in the fight for equity.
In 1975, Lomax worked with Ed Roberts, the founder of the center for independent living in Berkley.
In 1977 disability rights activist staged a sit in, in San Francisco federal office building to urge the government to implement section 504 of the rehabilitation act, Lomax was there.
Alice wong
Published original essays, reports, and blog posts about abolish, intersectionality, culture, media, and politics from the perspective of disabled people.
Builds online spaces for people to share and connect.
Hosts and organizes Twitter chats about disability issues.
