Historical Development of The Disabilities Movement

As time went on, many people with disabilities, including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), were being discriminated against in society, including in education and work. This sparked the disabilities movement that dates back to the mid-1800s and is still evolving today.

The Evolution of the Disability Rights Movement

In the United States, politicians, activists, and awareness groups like The National MS Society supported the disabilities movement. They mirrored the ways Americans have stood up for their rights, such as in the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement. To understand the disabilities movement, one must first comprehend the correct definition of disability. Most people have a common misunderstanding of what disability means based on their life experiences; an example would be a classmate in a wheelchair. A disability can be based on a person’s mental or psychological status and their physical state of being. Additionally, disabilities can be visible, like certain cases of Multiple Sclerosis, or invisible, like Diabetes. According to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, an individual with a disability is defined as “persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for oneself, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning” (Rehabilitation Act of 1973). The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states that a person may have a disability if they have an impairment hindering them physically or mentally from performing major life activities, have this disability documented, or are known to have one or more disabilities. “S/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment” (Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). These definitions help society understand what it means to have a disability and why the disabilities movement started.

Early Advocacy and Legal Framework

The discussion of rights for people with disabilities began in the 1860s. The mindset that ‘people with disabilities are incapable of thinking, learning, and achieving in life’ diminished when Abraham Lincoln became President. Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., a school for deaf students, was granted funds by a bill that President Abraham Lincoln enacted. This bill helped pave the way for rights for people with disabilities. Lincoln’s open-mindedness to rights for people with disabilities would later set the gears of change for civil, gender equality, and disability rights. Change became a national demand in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Americans desired change for equality regardless of race and gender. With the eruption of civil disobedience, nonviolent protests, sit-ins, boycotts, and violence due to racial inequality and civil rights, President John F. Kennedy pledged his support for the legislation of civil rights for all Americans. It was not until July 2, 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson was president, that the Civil Rights Act was passed. Soon after, Title IX was passed in 1972. The law states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance” (Title IX, 1972). These two enactments did not directly influence the rights of people with disabilities but did elevate the spirit of change.

Significant Legislative Advances

In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act was passed by Congress. Subsection 504 is nationally known as the first civil rights enactment for people with disabilities. It states, “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance” (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504). However, the cost of this policy initially prevented its enforcement. In 1977, a series of protests forced the government to issue the rules and laws of the Rehabilitation Act. In July 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed and enforced the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. On that day, he proudly said, “Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down, that millions of Americans with disabilities are full-fledged citizens and, as such, are entitled to legal protections that ensure them equal opportunity and access to the mainstream of American life” (Bush, 1990). This law expanded the legal rights of citizens with disabilities. The rights include access to public services, telecommunication, public accommodations, the private sector, and employment, but are not limited to these areas. Because of this law, all public and private organizations in the United States, excluding private country clubs and churches, are now required to follow the regulations in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Now the rights of all people with disabilities, including those with Multiple Sclerosis, are protected by these mandated laws.

Conclusion

The disabilities movement has been pivotal in reshaping societal attitudes and legal frameworks to ensure equal rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As the movement continues to evolve, it remains a testament to the enduring fight for inclusivity and equity in all facets of life. Future advancements in policy and societal attitudes will continue to build on this legacy, promoting a more inclusive world for everyone.