Disability rights movement facts for kids

The disability rights movement is a worldwide effort. It aims to make sure all people with disabilities have equal chances and equal rights.

This movement includes groups of disability activists or disability advocates from all over the world. They work together for similar goals. These goals include making places like buildings and transportation easy to use and safe. They also fight for fair chances in living independently, getting jobs, going to school, and finding homes. They want to stop discrimination, abuse, and other unfair treatment. Disability activists work hard to remove barriers that stop people with disabilities from living full lives.

Disability rights can be tricky because people with disabilities might face unfair treatment in many different ways. For example, finding a job can be a challenge. Employers might not be ready or able to provide the help needed for people with disabilities to do their work well.

History

United States

Disability rights in America have changed a lot over the last 100 years. Before the disability rights movement, President Franklin D. Roosevelt hid his disability. This showed how people felt about disabilities back then. He didn't want to be seen as weak. This made people think that "disability means weakness."

In the U.S., disability was often seen as a personal problem. Not many groups or government programs helped people with disabilities. In the 1950s, more volunteer and parent groups started, like the March of Dimes. This was a start for activism. But many parents still hid their children with disabilities. They feared forced treatments.

When the civil rights movement started in the 1960s, disability advocates joined in. They also joined the women's rights movements. They wanted equal treatment and to fight stereotypes. This is when the disability rights movement started to include all types of disabilities. People with physical, mental, visual, and hearing disabilities came together. They fought for the same important cause.

It wasn't until 1990 that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. This law made it illegal to treat people unfairly because of a disability. It also said that all buildings and public places must be accessible. The ADA was very important. It explained what "reasonable accommodation" means. This helped protect both employees and employers. Today, disability rights advocates keep fighting for those who face discrimination. They also work on issues like how law enforcement treats people with disabilities.

United Nations

Around the world, the United Nations has created the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This agreement talks about the rights of people with disabilities everywhere.

Disability Barriers

Floor marker for visually impaired people in Narita Airport, Japan

The social model of disability says that disability is caused by how society is set up. It's not just about a person's health condition. This model suggests that barriers in society are created by ableism. Ableism is when society favors people without disabilities. When these barriers are removed, people with disabilities can be independent and equal.

There are three main types of barriers:

• Attitudinal barriers: These are created by people's negative attitudes. They might only see a person's disability instead of the person. This can lead to bullying, unfair treatment, and fear. It also includes having low expectations for people with disabilities. These attitudes make other barriers worse.
• Environmental barriers: These are physical barriers in our surroundings. This includes natural places or buildings that are hard to access. For example, stairs without ramps or doors that are too narrow. These barriers stop people from being included.
• Institutional barriers: These are unfair laws, rules, or practices. They discriminate against people with disabilities. For example, some laws might not protect the political rights of people with disabilities. Some banks might not let visually impaired people open accounts.

Other barriers include low confidence in people with disabilities themselves. Also, there isn't always enough information or data about disabled people. And sometimes, disabled people are not asked for their opinions or included in decisions that affect them.

Issues

People with Physical Disabilities

Making public places easier to use has been a big change. This includes city streets, public buildings, and restrooms. In many places, you can now see elevators, automatic doors, and wider hallways. There are also wheelchair ramps and curb cuts (slopes from the sidewalk to the street). These changes help people using wheelchairs or with other mobility issues. They can use sidewalks and public transit more easily and safely.

People with Visual Disabilities

Code signs for people with color vision deficiency

People with color vision deficiency (color blindness) often face challenges. They might have trouble telling certain colors apart. A system called Coloradd was created in 2010. It uses special shapes to show colors. This helps people who can't see colors well.

People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities work hard for their human rights. They want to be treated with respect, just like everyone else. Since the self advocacy movement started in the 1960s, a main goal has been to help people with these disabilities move out of special institutions. They want to live in the community instead.

Another important goal is to make sure they work in regular workplaces. They want to earn at least the minimum wage. In some places, it's still legal to pay people with these disabilities less than minimum wage. Many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities also have guardians. This means they can't always make their own choices about their lives.

The idea of "People First" is very important to this movement. It reminds everyone that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are human beings first. This slogan is still used today.

Autism Rights Movement

The autism rights movement is a social movement. It focuses on the idea of neurodiversity. This means that the autism spectrum is a natural way the human brain can be. It's not something that needs to be "cured." This movement wants more acceptance of autistic behaviors. They want therapies that help autistic people learn coping skills. They don't want therapies that force them to act like people who aren't autistic.

They also want to create social groups and events where autistic people can connect on their own terms. They believe the autistic community should be seen as a minority group.

People in this movement believe autism is mostly genetic. They think it's a natural part of human differences. This is different from the idea that autism is a problem to be fixed. It's also different from false ideas that vaccines cause autism.

This movement can be debated. Some people say that most autistic activists are "high-functioning." They might have Asperger syndrome. These critics say these activists don't speak for "low-functioning" autistic people.

People with Mental Health Issues

People who advocate for the rights of those with mental health disabilities focus on self-determination. This means a person's ability to live independently and make their own choices.

A big goal of the disability rights movement is the right to live an independent life. This means using paid help at home instead of living in an institution, if that's what the person wants. This is also a main goal of the independent living and self-advocacy movements. These movements are especially important for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions. They have helped people with disabilities become more active in society.

Access to Education and Employment

Getting into education and finding employment have also been big goals. Adaptive technologies help people do jobs they couldn't do before. This creates more job opportunities and helps people become financially independent. Better access in classrooms has also improved learning chances for people with disabilities.

United States

In 1948, a big step for the movement was proving that physical barriers existed. These barriers stopped people with disabilities from using buildings and programs. A set of rules was created to make places easy to use for everyone. These rules showed the basic needs for accessible buildings and programs.

Examples of barriers include only having steps to enter buildings. Or sidewalks that are not kept up. Or places that are not near public transportation. Also, a lack of visual or hearing communication can separate people with disabilities. This stops them from being independent and taking part in opportunities.

The "ANSI A117.1, Making Buildings Accessible to and Usable by the Physically Handicapped" standard proved these barriers were real. This standard came from over 40 years of research. Physical therapists, engineers, and people with disabilities worked on it. It gives rules for changing places and programs to help people be independent. This standard has been used around the world since the 1960s.

One of the most important parts of the disability rights movement was the rise of the independent living movement. This started in California in the 1960s. It was led by Edward Roberts and other wheelchair users. This movement believes that people with disabilities know best what they need. So, they should lead the way in finding solutions and fighting for their rights.

The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 was passed in 1968. It said that buildings built with federal money must be accessible. This was the first federal law about disability rights. However, for people with cognitive disabilities, it was harder to speak up for themselves. This made it harder for them to lead the movement.

In 1973, the (American) Rehabilitation Act of 1973 became law. Sections 501, 503, and 504 made it illegal to discriminate in federal programs. They also covered programs that received federal money. A key part, Section 504, said that no qualified person with a disability should be excluded from any program getting federal money. The act also set aside money to help disabled people get job training. It also helped make sure they could get to work without access problems. This was the first civil rights law to guarantee equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

Another key moment was the 504 Sit-in in 1977. Disability activists occupied government buildings. They wanted the rules for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to be signed. On April 5, 1977, protests started in ten cities. The most famous one was in San Francisco. About 120 activists stayed in the HEW building for 25 days. Judith Heumann led this successful sit-in. Finally, on April 28, 1977, the rules were signed. This protest was important because it brought together people with different disabilities. They worked together for a law that helped everyone.

In 1978, disability rights activists in Denver, Colorado, protested. They blocked city buses. They were upset because the city's bus system was not accessible for people with physical disabilities. This protest led to a year of similar actions. Finally, the Denver Transit Authority bought buses with wheelchair lifts. In 1983, Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (ADAPT) led another protest in Denver. This one lasted seven years. They protested against inaccessible public transportation. This campaign ended in 1990. That's when the Americans with Disabilities Act required bus lifts nationwide.

Another important protest was the Deaf President Now protest. This happened at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in March 1988. Students protested for eight days. They were upset because the university, which is for Deaf students, had never had a Deaf president. The students wanted a Deaf president to represent them. About 2,000 students and others joined the protests. They protested on campus, in government buildings, and in the streets. In the end, all their demands were met. I. King Jordan became the university's first Deaf president.

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. It gave wide-ranging civil rights protection to people with disabilities. This law was like the Civil Rights Act and Section 504. It was the biggest disability rights law in American history. It said that local, state, and federal governments must be accessible. Employers with more than 15 workers must make "reasonable accommodations" for disabled employees. They cannot discriminate against qualified workers with disabilities. Public places like restaurants and stores also cannot discriminate. They must make changes to allow access for disabled people. The act also required access in public transportation and communication.

The first Disability Pride March in the U.S. was in Boston in 1990. Another one was held in Boston in 1991. Then, there were no more for many years. The next one was in Chicago on July 18, 2004. About 1,500 people attended this parade.

Exhibitions and Collections

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History opened an exhibition. It showed the history of activism by people with disabilities and their families. They fought for the civil rights that all Americans should have. The exhibition included the pen President George H. W. Bush used to sign the Act. It also had one of the first ultralight wheelchairs. The exhibition was designed to be very accessible. It was open from July 6, 2000, to July 23, 2001.

Debates and Approaches

One big discussion in the disability rights movement is about affirmative action. Should there be special programs to help people with disabilities get jobs? Or should the focus be only on fair treatment for everyone? Some people worry that hiring people with disabilities might affect a company's image or slow down work. This is still a topic of debate.

Another discussion is about where people with disabilities should live. Should they live in institutions or be supported in their own homes? In 1963, during John F. Kennedy's time as president, he changed how the country viewed mental health. He increased money for community-based programs. He also created a panel to suggest new state programs. These changes helped move away from large institutions. This shift has led to less funding for mental health institutions today.

Another ongoing discussion is how to help people with disabilities make their own choices. This is called self-determination. The idea is that all people have the right to choose freely. One view is that the government should not interfere. People with disabilities should get help from charities if they need it. On the other hand, another idea is for governments and organizations to work with people with disabilities. This means helping them learn skills and providing resources. It means letting people with disabilities say what they need and find their own solutions. This way, they are active participants, not just told what to do.

See also

Images for kids

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  Code signs for people with color vision deficiency