Editing Disability rights movement (section)

===United States===
{{Further|Timeline of disability rights in the United States}}
{{Further|Suffrage for Americans with Disabilities}}

In 1948, a watershed for the movement was the proof of the existence of physical and program barriers. The proof was provided as a specification for barrier free usable facilities for people with disabilities. The specifications provided the minimum requirements for barrier free physical and program access. An example of barriers are; providing only steps to enter buildings; lack of maintenance of walkways; locations not connected with public transit; lack of visual and hearing communications ends up segregating individuals with disabilities from independent, participation, and opportunities. The ANSI - Barrier Free Standard (phrase coined by [[Timothy Nugent]], the lead investigator) called "ANSI A117.1, Making Buildings Accessible to and Usable by the Physically Handicapped", provides the indisputable proof that the barriers exist. The standard is the outcome of physical therapists, bio-mechanical engineers, and individuals with disabilities who developed and participated in over 40 years of research. The standard provides the criteria for modifying programs and the physical site to provide independence. The standard has been emulated globally since its introduction in Europe, Asia, Japan, Australia, and Canada, in the early 1960s.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

One of the most important developments of the disability rights movement was the growth of the [[independent living movement]], which emerged in [[California]] in the 1960s through the efforts of [[Ed Roberts (activist)|Edward Roberts]] and other wheelchair-using individuals. This movement, a subset of the disability rights movement, postulates that people with disabilities are the best experts on their needs, and therefore they must take the initiative, individually and collectively, in designing and promoting better solutions and must organize themselves for political power. Besides de-professionalization and self-representation, the independent living movement's ideology comprises de-medicalization of disability, de-institutionalization and cross-disability (i.e. inclusion in the independent living movement regardless of diagnoses).<ref name="Law"/> Similarly, the [[Architectural Barriers Act of 1968|Architectural Barriers Act]] was passed in 1968, mandating that federally constructed buildings and facilities be accessible to people with physical disabilities. This act is generally considered to be the first ever-federal disability rights legislation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.drckansas.org/disability-awareness-project/HistoryofDisabilityRightsinKSandUS.pdf|title=Where We Came From: A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement and Disability Discrimination|date = 2010 |website = drckansas.org |publisher =Disability Rights Center of Kansas|archive-url =  https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220848/http://www.drckansas.org/disability-awareness-project/HistoryofDisabilityRightsinKSandUS.pdf |  archive-date =2014-05-20|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref> Unfortunately for those with cognitive disabilities, their disability made it more difficult to be the best expert of their own needs, hindering their ability to self-advocate as their wheelchair-using counterparts could. Self-representation was much more difficult for those who could not articulate their thoughts, leading to their dependence on others to carry on the movement.

In 1973 the (American) [[Rehabilitation Act of 1973|Rehabilitation Act]] became law; Sections 501, 503, and 504 prohibited discrimination in federal programs and services and all other programs or services receiving federal funds. Key language in the Rehabilitation Act, found in [[Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act|Section 504]], states "No otherwise qualified handicapped ''{{sic}}'' individual in the United States, shall, solely by reason of his ''{{sic}}'' handicap ''{{sic}}'', be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."<ref name="Berkeley">{{cite web|url=http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/resources/timeline.html|title=The Regents of the University of California. 2008. "The Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement." Berkeley, CA: The University of California Berkeley|access-date=6 October 2014|archive-date=25 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225060906/http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/resources/timeline.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Timeline">{{cite web | url = http://isc.temple.edu/neighbor/ds/disabilityrightstimeline.htm | title = Disability History Timeline | year = 2002 | work = Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Independent Living Management | publisher = [[Temple University]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220065328/http://isc.temple.edu/neighbor/ds/disabilityrightstimeline.htm | archive-date = 2013-12-20 }}</ref> The act also specifies money that can be allocated to help disabled people receive training for the work force as well as to assist in making sure that they can then reach work without running into inaccessibility problems. This was the first civil rights law guaranteeing equal opportunity for people with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concordspedpac.org/Section504.html|title=Concord Special Education Parent Advisory Committee website, article title Concord Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, Section 504|access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>

Another crucial turning point was the [[504 Sit-in]] in 1977 of government buildings operated by the [[United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] (HEW), conceived by [[Frank Bowe]] and organized by the [[American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities]], that led to the release of regulations pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. On April 5, 1977, activists began to demonstrate and some sat-in in the offices found in ten of the federal regions including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. One of the most noteworthy protests occurred in San Francisco. The protesters demanded the signing of regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.The successful sit-in was led by [[Judith Heumann]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Commons Librarian |date=2023-04-14 |title=All about Judith Heumann: Disability Rights Activist |url=https://commonslibrary.org/all-about-judith-heumann-disability-rights-activist/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}</ref> The first day of protests marked the first of a 25-day sit-in. Close to 120 disability activists and protesters occupied the HEW building, and Secretary [[Joseph Califano]] finally signed on April 28, 1977. This protest was significant not only because its goal was achieved, but also because it was the foremost concerted effort between people of different disabilities coming together in support of legislation that affected the overall disability population, rather than only specific groups.

In 1978 disability rights activists in Denver, Colorado, organized by the [[Atlantis Community]], held a sit-in and blockade of the Denver Regional Transit Authority buses in 1978. They were protesting the fact that city's transit system was completely inaccessible for physically disabled people. This action proved to be just the first in a series of civil disobedience demonstrations that lasted for a year until the Denver Transit Authority finally bought buses equipped with wheelchair lifts. In 1983, [[ADAPT|Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (ADAPT)]] was responsible for another civil disobedience campaign also in Denver that lasted seven years. They targeted the American Public Transport Association in protest of inaccessible public transportation; this campaign ended in 1990 when bus lifts for people using wheelchairs were required nationwide by the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]].<ref name="Berkeley"/>

Another significant protest related to disability rights was the [[Deaf President Now]] protest by the [[Gallaudet University]] students in Washington, D.C., in March 1988. The eight-day (March 6 – March 13) demonstration and occupation and lock-out of the school began when the Board of Trustees appointed a new hearing President, Elisabeth Zinser, over two Deaf candidates. The students' primary grievance was that the university, which was dedicated to the education of people who are Deaf, had never had a Deaf president, someone representative of them. Of the protesters' four demands, the main one was the resignation of the current president and the appointment of a Deaf one. The demonstration consisted of about 2,000 student and nonstudent participants. The protests took place on campus, in government buildings, and in the streets. In the end, all the students' demands were met and [[I. King Jordan]] was appointed the first Deaf President of the university.<ref name="Zames1"/>

In 1990, the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]] became law, and it provided comprehensive civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Closely modeled after the Civil Rights Act and Section 504, the law was the most sweeping disability rights legislation in American history. It mandated that local, state, and federal governments and programs be accessible, that employers with more than 15 employees make "[[reasonable accommodation]]s" for workers with disabilities and not discriminate against otherwise qualified workers with disabilities, and that public accommodations such as restaurants and stores not discriminate against people with disabilities and that they make reasonable modifications to ensure access for disabled members of the public. The act also mandated access in public transportation, communication, and in other areas of public life.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The first [[Disability Pride Parades|Disability Pride March]] in the United States was held in Boston in 1990. A second Disability Pride March was held in Boston in 1991. There were no subsequent Disability Pride Marches/Parades for many years, until Chicago on Sunday, July 18, 2004.<ref name="disabilityprideparade.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.disabilityprideparade.com/history/History04.php|title=The Inaugural International Disability Pride Parade Unified in Pride Sunday, July 18, 2004 Chicago, Illinois|publisher=www.disabilityprideparade.com|access-date=July 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215148/http://www.disabilityprideparade.com/history/History04.php|archive-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref name="http://www.itodaynews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.itodaynews.com/2012-issues/june2012/disability-pride.htm|title=Disability Pride Fast Becoming Genuine Cause for Celebration|publisher=www.itodaynews.com|access-date=July 11, 2013|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215812/http://www.itodaynews.com/2012-issues/june2012/disability-pride.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was funded with $10,000 in seed money that Sarah Triano received in 2003 as part of the Paul G. Hearne Leadership award from the [[American Association of People with Disabilities]].<ref name="http://www.itodaynews.com"/> According to Triano, 1,500 people attended the parade.<ref name="http://www.itodaynews.com"/> Yoshiko Dart was the parade marshal.<ref name="disabilityprideparade.com"/>