George H W Bush signs the American Disability Act, July 26, 1990.

The month of July is used to honor Disability Pride Month as well as the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed on July 26, 1990, was passed to prevent discrimination in all areas of life in America against people living with disabilities. This meant progress towards equal accessibility and opportunity in places such as public transportation, employment, state/ local government services, etc. The ADA was born from decades of vibrant and inspiring activism led by individuals with disabilities, part of the Disability Rights Movement.

People with disabilities have long been faced with harsh marginalization and discrimination. Historically, harmful legislation has been enforced on them, treating people not as human beings, but as objects of pity or a burden. Through this, a movement has grown in resistance. Led by some strong and inspiring figures, the modern Disability Rights Movement has been around since the early 1900s. Early advocates for disability rights include Helen Keller and Edward Gallaudet. Both advocated strongly for equal access to education for people with disabilities during a time when such representation was rare.

The Disability Rights Movement expanded greatly in the 1960s and 1970s after being greatly inspired by the tactics and successes of other social justice movements at the time, such as the Civil Rights Movement. Advocates and protesters employed strategies such as collective action, civil disobedience, and peaceful protest to spread their messages. They called for full inclusion and equal rights for people with disabilities in all areas of life. At the time, most buildings didn’t even have accessible entrances for people with disabilities, such as those in wheelchairs. However, through several major protests and demonstrations, more recognition and attention was brought to the movement. One such protest was the 504 Sit-In of 1977. This was a nearly one-month-long sit-in in a San Francisco federal building, the longest nonviolent occupation of a federal building in US history. Participants demanded the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination based on a disability in programs receiving federal funding. The sit-in ended in success as amends were made by the government to properly enforce the section, a pivotal accomplishment for the Disability Rights Movement.

Through nearly three decades of powerful, peaceful protest, several major pieces of legislation were passed, assuring more equal rights to people living with disabilities. This eventually culminated in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The ADA is widely considered to be the most monumental piece of legislation passed as a result of the hard work of the Disability Rights Movement. It established accessibility and inclusion as a civil right, not a courtesy.

With these triumphs, it’s important to acknowledge there’s work that still needs to be done to ensure all people living with disabilities are treated fairly and equally. Disabled people continue to face a great deal of discrimination, whether it be in areas of health care, education, or employment. Currently, cuts to America’s Medicaid program will, in the future, have major consequences for the thousands of Americans living with disabilities who depend on it. These cuts could result in a total loss of health care coverage and limit access to certain essential services that people rely on for their well-being. During this Disability Pride Month, let’s not allow this to go unnoticed or stop the fight for progress.

–Isabelle Oppelt