History & Philosophy

People with disabilities have an exciting and rich history that should be shared with the world. They have existed since the beginning of time, and have a long history of attempting to better their situation through self-advocacy and self-determination.

History of Independent Living

An Essay written by Gina McDonald and Mike Oxford. This account of the history of independent living stems from a philosophy which states that people with disabilities should have the same civil rights, options, and control over choices in their own lives as do people without disabilities.

The History of 504

Links to Historical Articles and Eyewitness Accounts. These accounts are from people that fought to get section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Passed into Law.

ADA History

A history written by Arlene Mayerson. The ADA story began a long time ago in cities and towns throughout the United States when people with disabilities began to challenge societal barriers that excluded them from their communities, and when parents of children with disabilities began to fight against the exclusion and segregation of their children.

Equality of Opportunity: The Making of the Americans with Disabilities Act

by the National Council on Disability and Jonathan M. Young

A Little History Worth Knowing

Written by Tim Cook. The Alabama legislature declared them "a menace to the happiness...of the community." A Texas law mandated segregation to relieve society of the "heavy economic and moral losses arising from the existence at large of these unfortunate persons."

Smithsonian Disability Rights Exhibit

Take a virtual tour of An exhibit on the disability rights movement that opened July 6 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Disability Social History Project

A Virtual Tour Through Disability History. This project will present images and information about disabled historical figures and events in an attempt to give an introduction to disability social history.

Great Chronology

Chronology starting in 1817 until 1996

Institute on Disability Culture

Steve Brown, Founder. The purpose of this site is to provide information about disability culture and to share examples of our culture. This site is currently entirely text-based. Look for changes to the site in upcoming months.

Art, Music and Literature

Links to Art, Music, and Literature as Expression of the Movement

Sat Jul 5 06:09:38 2008