Joanne R. Pompano
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a wide-ranging civil rights law protecting the rights of the more than 54 million people with disabilities in the United States.
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This landmark legislation, that guarantees nondiscrimination and equal opportunities in school, work and community settings, became law in 1990 but only after a lengthy, challenging struggle.
This curriculum will provide a brief history of the Disability Rights movement in America by examining the major stages and events that occurred as advocates worked to gain rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. Using this brief history as a background, the unit will concentrate on the political, legal and social activism following World War II because this post-war period was an especially active and important time in Disability Rights history. During this era, there was an enormous influx of disabled soldiers returning to America and they demanded action from their government and their community. Former soldiers were vocal in their demands for equality and organized in their approach to attaining entitlements. Because of their action, there was a dramatic change in the treatment of disabled Americans.
During this period, numerous organizations were founded that helped veterans and their families. Congress and state governments passed important legislation to assist people with disabilities. Medical discoveries and new rehabilitation treatments and devices provided hope for individuals with a variety of conditions and disorders. So much seemed to be happening and at such a quick pace. Yet, it took nearly five decades for the American with Disabilities Act to become law.