Name - Akul

Course – B.A English (Hons) VIth Sem

Roll No. – 0222031

Paper – Literature And Disability

Question : Write an essay on the history of disability rights movements in

The fight for disability rights in America and Britain has been a long and
complex struggle, shaped by social attitudes, legal battles, and activism.
Historically, disabled individuals faced widespread discrimination,
institutionalisation, and exclusion from public life. However, the rise of the
disability rights movement in the mid-20th century challenged these injustices,
advocating for equal opportunities, accessibility, and legal protections. In both
countries, activists pushed for landmark legislation, such as the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and the Disability Discrimination
Act (DDA) in Britain, transforming the rights and lives of disabled people. In
my essay, I will talk about history of disability right movement in America and
Britain, key millstone and figure in the movement and impact of the movement
on the world.
American history of disability right movement can be dated back from 19th
century with both the founding of formal education for the Deaf and the Deaf-
Blind communities along with the invention of Braille. Differently-abled citizen
were always seen from three perspective; Moral, Medical, and Social. Moral
model saw their disability as god doing either for their sin or as god trial. Medical
model saw disable people as broken that should be scientifically cured on the
other hand Social model saw idea of being someone disable as societal a
construct, that make a person disable by not providing to them what they need.
Rejecting the stigma, isolation, and dependency which have
long characterised the social position of people with disabilities in Western
nations, the disability rights movement has promoted the idea that prejudicial
attitudes and exclusionary practices are far greater barriers to societal
participation for many disabled people than are their physical or mental
[Link] after being the largest minority in American, fight for their
right has not been an easygoing, there persistent effort to be seen as equal, that
is still going on.
Disability in American was not even seen as considerate discourse not until they
face two world war and suddenly war veteran were coming back as disable not
only physically but psychologically too. in 1918 The Smith-Sears Veterans
Rehabilitation Act became law, and provided for the promotion of vocational
rehabilitation and return to civil employment of disabled persons discharged
from the U.S. military . Then in 1935 The League of the Handicapped formed to
fight for employment during period of great depression, around this time White
House becomes one of the first government building to be wheelchair-accessible
because of president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used a wheelchair because of
his paralytic illness. In 1940 American Federation of physically handicapped was
formed by Paul Strachan, was the first cross-disability national political
organisation to urge an end to job discrimination. After the second world war
again veteran from war faced disability challenge, pressuring government to
look after them and accommodate them in normal life.
Rise in Disability movement comes from 1960’s when civil right movement
starting to take shape, disability movement activists joined hand with them
though they didn’t gained much success from the joined movement but get a
sense of what kind of law they want for themselves. 1973 Rehabilitation Act is
one fist major milestone in disability movement, this act make sure civil rights
of people with disabilities were protected by law. Then in 1975 comes Education
of All Handicapped Children Act guaranteed children with disabilities the right
to public school education, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act was
renamed in 1990 to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
From 1980’s aspirations for one umbrella legislation act for differently- able
people, much like the civil right movement for Black American. After
tremendous effort by disability activists in 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) was passed this was by far the biggest achievement for them, it prohibit
discrimination and ensure equal treatment for people and opportunity in sphere
of employment, state rendered services and in public accommodation and
services. ADA also makes a mandate for business to restructure or modify job
and equipment and all public accommodations were expected to have
modifications made to be accessible to people with disabilities, With this piece
of legislation, the US government identified the full participation, inclusion and
integration of people with disabilities in all levels of society.
American Disability Movement owes it successful to it’s activists who provide
a structure to the whole movement ;Ed Roberts, Judy Heumann, Justin Dart. Ed
Roberts also know as the father of independent-living movement, he was
diagnosed with polio at the age of 14 which lead to paralysis of his body from
neck to down, which made him require a respirator to breathe. He faced multiple
obstacle for completing his high school education and he also becomes first
severely disable person to get admission in UC Berkeley in 1972 he founded
Centre for Independent Living which for disable people right that would give
them community life. Judy Heumann is one another important activists in
disability movement, knows as the mother of disability right movement. She was
contracted with polio when she was 18 month which paralysed her.
Judy is most famous for leading the historic 1977 section 504 sit-in. This was an
important section of Rehabilitation Act protected individuals with disabilities
from being denied benefits and services from any program that receives federal
funds. Justin Dart widely known as the Godfather Disability Movement. He was
also contracted with polio which confined him to wheelchair. In 1981 president
Ronald Reagan appointed him as vice-chairman of the National Council on
Disability. Dart and other council members drafted a national policy on equal
rights for disabled people, and the document ultimately became the foundation
of the ADA.
Britain’s Disability right movement has a similar history as American Disability
movement, much like the American status of disable people in Britain disability
was seen from the eye of charity and pity mostly excluded from the mainstream
society and forced institutionalisation of these people create a backdrop for the
movement. Post world war one led demand to accommodate war veteran facing
disability into mainstream society. In 1920 National League of the blind organise
landmark march under the slogan of “ Justice not Charity” which led to Britain
first law recognising disability right-Blind Persons act of 1920. During second
world war when majority of the population was involved in the war, this created
a void in the workforce leading to the employment of disable people, this near
the end of war lead to the The Disable Person (Employment) Act of 1944 that
mandate 3% employment quota for disable workers.
In Britain rise in Disability movement comes from 1970’s with Chronically Sick
and Disabled Person Act activism for this act was lead by Alf Morris who later
becomes the first minister for Disabled People, this mandate local authorities to
provide housing, education and support to disable people. Later Anne Rae co-
founded the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation(UPIAS)
which completely rejected medical model to see disability, stating disability as
society construct and obstruction rather than individual impairment. In American
ADA was the landmark judgment that protected the Civil Right of Disable people
in America, in Britain Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 that ensured that
discrimination against disable people in employment, education and public
service were prohibited, Sir Bert Massie was key figure in drafting the DDA.
Disability Movement in America and Britain have significant effect on world
perspective how people with disabilities are perceived, persistent effort and
hardship of decade lead to landmark act of 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. American ADA and Britain
DDA laid the foundation for the legislation needed to protect the civil right of
disable people, while ensuring their equal participation in employment and
government and public rendered services. Countries like Japan and Australia
took inspiration for their policy from ADA, while DDA principal were mirrored
in European Union Directives and Commonwealth Nations policies. Legislative
enforcement was an important aspect of the Disability movement but how these
movement led to demand for equality over pity. Redefinition of what being
disable mean change the world perspective seeing it through the model social
model that saw disability as social barrier. Important protest and march like 1977
section 504 sit-in , capitol crawl and Direct Action Network “piss on pity”
campaign were blueprint for protest in countries like Canada, South Africa, India
etc. Shift from institutional care to community based care championed by Ed
Roberts inspired global initiative like this. Both American and British activism
shaped United Nation Convention on the Right of Person with Disability, Judy
Heumann made sure it alignment with social model which later is adopted by
185 countries. Exposure through media and sports also made add new layer in
discourse around disability. Documentaries like “Crip Camp” based on 1977 sit-
in humanised disability struggle. Global even like Paralympic normalised
disability in athlete which led global acceptance of disabled athlete
In conclusion, The Disability Right Movement in both American and Britain has
lead to substantial shift in how disability is perceived, changes in law around
disability that enable them to have equal opportunities. Landmark judgment of
ADA and DDA led to inclusivity in society. Activists like Ed Roberts, Judy
Heumann, and Justin Dart in US alongside Alf Morris and Bert Massie in Britain
played crucial role in shaping the [Link] of Disability Movement
has been global laying down the foundation for other countries to follow, Japan,
Australia, India and even EU mirrored aspect from movement to draft policy
around disability. The shift from institutional care to community based care and
involvement of media led to normalisation and inclusion of disable people in
mainstream media.