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Slide presentation available. Contact: Tina Calabro (tina. calabro@verizon. net) Paul O’Hanlon (pohanlon@dlp-pa. org) History of the Disability Movement Photo courtesy of Tom Olin

Disability Rights Movement n Struggle to gain full citizenship n Demand for equality, independence, autonomy, access to public life n Integration vs. “separate but equal” Source: American History Museum, Smithsonian Institution

In other words… “No More Pity” n “Access not excuses” n “I’m not dead yet” n “I am not a case, and I don’t need to be managed” n “Same struggle/different difference” n

Person-First Language

Common Reactions to Disability Assumptions about level of functioning n Focus on limitations n Fear n Ignore the person n Patronize n Pity n

Many Americans are not aware of the amount of ongoing advocacy needed to ensure equal rights for people with disabilities.

Historically… People with disabilities have been forced into dependency. Others speak for them, label them take care of them… often with the best intentions. Source: American History Museum, Smithsonian Institution

New Understandings -Disability is part of the human experience. -Barriers are not created by disability, but by society’s response to it. -People with disabilities have a right to participate in all facets of life. -Society has a responsibility to remove the barriers that exclude them.

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Late 1700 s n Nearly total neglect of people with disabilities 80% of people in “poor houses” and prison have disabilities n Services for disabled veterans begin. n Source: Carol Berrigan, Center for Human Policy, Syracuse University

1800 s Rise of “asylums” – institutes for the care of people, especially those with physical and mental disabilities

1817 Gallaudet founded American Asylum for Education and Instruction of the Deaf established in Hartford, CT. Emphasis on development

n 1812 -- School for blind children opened in Baltimore. Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind (est. 1832) had curriculum like regular schools. n Early “mainstreaming” -- understanding that people who were blind or deaf could be integrated into society, did not need to be sent away to institutions. Source: Carol Berrigan, Center for Human Policy, Syracuse University

1849 Reformer Dorothea Dix demanded state oversight of almshouses, where disabled people, criminals and others were thrown together. Source: ”No Pity, ” Joseph P. Shapiro

n Dix wrote that she had found people with mental illness and retardation “in cages, in closets, cellars. Stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience. ” n Result: States took over almshouses and built more, and set up specialized facilities for disabled and others who populated the almshouses. Source: “No Pity, ” Joseph P. Shapiro

1854 n First legislation to obtain federal funding for facilities for physically and mentally disabled vetoed by President Franklin Pierce. Set precedent for no federal intervention for next 50 years. n Source: “No Pity, ” Joseph P. Shapiro

n 1869 First classroom for children with disabilities (deafness) in regular elementary school (Boston). Later expanded to include other disabilities. By late 1800 s, term “asylum” changed to “hospital, ’ “school, ” “institute” n Source: Carol Berrigan, Center for Human Policy, Syracuse University

By 1875 -- 25 state schools and institutes in U. S Although centers may have begun with education in mind, most became custodial, segregated, isolated

How Americans Learned about Human Difference in 1800 s Dime Museums Freak Shows Cabinet of Curiosities Source: Disability History Museum

Eugenics Social philosophy which advocates the improvement of human hereditary traits through intervention. The goal is to create healthier, more intelligent people, save society's resources, and lessen human suffering. Historically, eugenics has been used as a justification for human rights violations, such as forced sterilization of persons with genetic defects. Nazi Germany is example.

Between 1909 and 1935, California doctors used eugenics to justify sterilization of 295 patients in Mendocino mental hospital. n By 1933, 26 states had sterilization laws inspired by eugenics. n Source: exhibition, “Deadly Medicine: Creating a Master Race, ”Andy Warhol Museum, Fall 2006

n In 1905, Pennsylvania legislature passed a law entitled “An Act for the Prevention of Idiocy. ”

n Governor Samueal Pennypacker vetoed the law. He wrote: “Scientists, like all other men whose experiences have been limited to one pursuit…sometimes need to be restained. Men of high scientific attainment are prone …to lose sight of broad principles outside their domain…. To permit such an operation would be to inflict cruelty upon a helpless class…which the state has undertaken to protect. ” Source: exhibition, “Deadly Medicine: Creating a Master Race, ”Andy Warhol Museum, Fall 2006

1910 Publication of The Jukes: A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease and Heredity, Richard Dugsdale. Claimed that mental retardation was the result of “bad blood. ” Linked criminal tendencies to “feeblemindedness and mental defect. ”

1915 Publication of Menace of Mental Retardation, W. A. Fernald Crime n Delinquency n Promiscuousness n

Ideas/Terms Persist Eugenics, until 1960 s n Term “cripple” used from late 18 th century to 1970 s n Term “defective” used from late 1700 s to 1930 s n Term “dumb” (unable to speak) used from early 1800 s until 1970 s. n

n Term “idiot” coined by psychologists in late 19 th century to describe person with severe cognitive disability. n Term “moron” coined by psychologists in 1910 to describe person with mental age of 7 -12 years old Source: Disability History Museum

1918 -1920 First federally-funded rehabilitation programs Disability population grows – WWI veterans, victims of industrial accidents

1930 s – 1940 s Depression n Social Security n WWII vets n

Tina

1930 s - 1940 s Parents Organize n Parents who did not want their children institutionalized or banned from public schools sought each other and started to organize. n Concerned about lack of community resources and support, need for “special education. ”

n Questioning the statement: “Nothing can be done for your child” n Belief that society has a responsibility to help people with disabilities have decent lives n Advocated for laws that improved education, rehabilitation and civil rights

More than 100 responded to the advertisement and more than 200 attended the meeting

By 1950… 88 local groups 33 different organizations in 19 States National Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Retarded Children

1953 -1973 -1981 -1992 -present

1950 s-1960 s n Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) and African American civil rights movement set stage for disability rights advocacy n Civil Rights Act (1964) prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin

Brown vs Board of Education 1954 Civil Rights Act 1964

1960 s n Advocates fight for laws that ensured civil rights, substantive education, and rehabilitation -- and eliminated custodial practices n Federal Bureau for the Handicapped established (1966)

International Symbol of Access (1968)

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Legislative History 1954 Brown vs Board of Education 1964 1965 1967 1972 Civil Rights Act 1973 1975 1986 Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Mills Vs Brd of Ed P. L. 94 -142 Education of All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) P. L. 99 -457 EHA Amendments P. L. 101 -476 P. L. 105 -17 EHA Amendments IDEA (Becomes Amendments IDEA) Economic Opportunities Act Amendments (Head Start) PA MH/MR Act 1997 2003 P. L. 101 -336 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Sec 504 Rehabilitation Act PARC Vs PA 1990 IDEA Reauthorizattion Head Start Reauthorizationt PA Act 212 Adapted from Family First Training, Temple University, 2003

De-institutionalization & Normalization Public exposure of inhumane conditions in institutions Families’ desire for children to live at home, attend school, and be part of the community

The Pennsylvania Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Act of 1967: The seeds of deinstitutionalization & normalization

1970 s n Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination n Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on basis of disability n Age Discrimination Act of 1975

1970 s n PARC Decree (1971)– guaranteed free and appropriate education in PA n Mills vs. Board of Education (1972)– expanded educational opportunities

Mills vs Board of Education (1972) PA Association for Retarded Children (PARC) vs Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania (1972)

1975 Public Law 94 -142 Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) Later re-named “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Individuals with Disabilities Eduction Act (IDEA) Guarantees free and appropriate education n Assures rights of child and parents n Assists states and localities to pay for special education n Assures and assesses delivery of special education n

n In 1975, more than one million children with disabilities were excluded from public education n 4 million students in schools were not receiving services they needed Source: US Dept. of Education

In 2002, 5. 6 million students received services under IDEA n -1984 – 25% in regular classes -1995 – 45% in regular classes

Add information about Gaskin Settlement and other supports for LRE, families who seek inclusive educations, educators who want to become able to provide it.

1970 s Independent Living Movement Establishment of first Independent Living Center (Berkeley) n Cross-disability n Integration into community is goal n Approach problems as social issues n Emphasis on self-determination (speaking for ourselves, taking control of own lives) n

Pioneers Ed Roberts – key figure in beginning of Independent Livig Movement Justin Dart – considered the “father of the ADA” Judy Heumann – denied a teaching certificate because of physical disability

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) One of the most significant civil rights documents of the 20 th century n Prohibits disability discrimination by public entities n n Mixed bag of legal protections and

Impact of the ADA n Increased participation and visibility of people with disabilities Improved communication access n Source: American History Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Reshaping the environment Curb-cuts n Buses with lifts n Accessible ATMs n Barrier-free design n Accessibility/visitability n Voter access n

Universal Design of products so they are usable by all people, to the greatest degree possible, without need for adaptation or specialized design

1998 Assistive Technology Act Access to information and communication through technology such as tele-captioners, voice recognition systems, voice synthesizers, screen readers. n Any device or system, simple or complex, designed to help a person with a disability to perform various tasks and activities. n

Ongoing Advocacy Employment n Housing n Transportation n Healthcare n Community-Based Services n Waiting lists n

A Voting Factoid n According to the latest census, 35 million Americans with disabilities are of voting age. This means that voters with disabilities are now one of the largest potential voting blocs in American politics.

An Employment Factoid n The unemployment rate among people with serious disabilities is the highest of any group of Americans, no matter their education or qualifications. Roughly 70 percent of workingage people with significant disabilities are not working. - U. S. Census Bureau

Diverse constituencies n Disability “family” issues n Physical, cognitive, mental health, sensory Parent – Offspring issues n Disability onset issues n Class and income n Duration and inheritance n

Diverse arenas / allies n n n n Zoning issues in R-1 districts Sidewalks – their presence and maintenance Agency control vs. individual control Medical care provided in a self-directed manner Classroom arrangements and dynamics Employment and issues of value and worth A seat on the bus