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An Overview of the Disability Rights Movement
Moriah Godsey
GVPT 170 E120 American Government
Anne-Marie Harcrow
Sep 9, 2025
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The battle for basic rights for disabled people has gone on for centuries. People with
mental disabilities like down syndrome, autism, and other neurological disorders were
often seen as stupid, unintelligent, and feeble, often shunned by society or treated like
spectacles. Down syndrome was discovered in 1862 and autism in 1911. But at these
times in history, these people were still looked down upon and thought to be incapable of
leading normal human lives. Those with physical disabilities were often confined to their
homes, virtually helpless, continuously dependent on someone else to help them care for
themselves. Various genetic mutations were seen as profitable freak show exhibits and
unfortunately, many people were essentially enslaved by the show business industry. It
has only been in recent years that people of all backgrounds and disabilities are beginning
to gain the rights to live normal lives.
In the 1970s, disability rights activists rallied and marched through the streets of
Washington DC demanding that Congress include civil rights for people with disabilities in
the 1972 Rehabilitation Act. In 1973, the act was passed, and for the first time in history,
civil rights of people with disabilities were protected by the law. The Rehabilitation Act of
1973 provided equal opportunity for employment in the government and in federally
funded programs, prohibiting discrimination based on physical or mental disability.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act also introduced the Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board, requiring equal access to all public services to people with
disabilities.
In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was passed, which garunteed
all children with mental and physical disabilities the access to public education and required
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complete inclusion of disabled children into all classes. The act was renamed the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act in 1990. Along with this renaming, the parents would now be
directly included in all choices and education decisions involving their children.
In the 1980s, disability rights activists pushed for a single, comprehensive civil rights law
that would protect people with disabilities, similar to how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protected
against discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. But disabled persons
were left out of that list, thus causing activists to demand representation in the law.
Their efforts led to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The act
was designed to prevent discrimination and guarantee equal access in areas such as employment,
public services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications, even those
outside of government programs. It required employers to provide reasonable accommodations,
mandated that public services and businesses be made accessible, and ensured that
communication services included helpful options for people with disabilities. The law had finallu
recognized disability rights as civil rights.
However, the Americans with Disabilities Act did not instantly rewrite stereotypes or
physical barriers. People with disabilities still face prejudice in media portrayals, difficulties in
the schooling system, and challenges such as unaffordable healthcare. While the ADA was a
historic step forward, the demands and pleas of people with disabilities have yet to be completely
and unequivocally met. Even so, the disability rights movement continues to make progress
toward equality, inclusion, the removal of stereotypes and bias.
References
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ADL Education. (2017, May 3). A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement.
[Link]; Anti-Defamation League.
[Link]
Mandal, A. (2011, February 23). Down Syndrome History. [Link].
[Link]
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica Article History. (2024). Disability rights movement |
Description, History, Equal Opportunity, & Disability Advocacy | Britannica.
Encyclopedia Britannica. [Link]
U.S. Department of Labor. (1973, September 26). Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
[Link]. [Link]
center/statutes/section-504-rehabilitation-act-of-1973