A ‘Declaration of Equality’

Judy Heumann knows what it’s like to grow up in a world that wasn’t built for her. In 1949, when she was 18 months old, she contracted polio, which left her paralyzed.

When Heumann’s mom tried to enroll her in kindergarten in Brooklyn, New York, the principal called her a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair, and wouldn’t let her in. When she was finally allowed to attend school three years later, she and other kids with disabilities were taught in special-education classes in the basement of the school—separated from the rest of the students.

Heumann couldn’t go with her friends to many places, such as the movie theater, because there were no ramps, and she often had to be carried up flights of stairs.

But Heumann never felt ashamed of who she was. She knew it wasn’t people with disabilities who needed to change—it was the world around them.

“People continually think that those of us with disabilities would prefer not to have our disabilities,” Heumann, now 72, says. “And I believe it’s important for people to see that disability is a normal part of life and that the barriers we’re facing, in many ways, are external to us.”

Judy Heumann knows what it’s like to grow up in a world that wasn’t built for her. In 1949, when she was 18 months old, she contracted polio. Her bout with the disease left her paralyzed.

When Heumann’s mom tried to enroll her in kindergarten in Brooklyn, New York, the principal called her a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair. He wouldn’t let her in. She was finally allowed to attend school three years later. But she and other kids with disabilities were taught in special-education classes in the basement of the school. They were separated from the rest of the students.

Heumann couldn’t go with her friends to many places, such as the movie theater. That‘s because there were no ramps, and she often had to be carried up flights of stairs.

But Heumann never felt ashamed of who she was. She knew it wasn’t people with disabilities who needed to change—it was the world around them.

“People continually think that those of us with disabilities would prefer not to have our disabilities,” Heumann, now 72, says. “And I believe it’s important for people to see that disability is a normal part of life and that the barriers we’re facing, in many ways, are external to us.”

Heumann would go on to spend much of her life trying to break down those barriers—leading sit-ins and other demonstrations as one of the most prominent activists in the disability rights movement. That movement resulted in the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) on July 26, 1990. The federal law makes it illegal to discriminate against people because of their disabilities. It also mandates that places like schools, grocery stores, and theaters be made accessible—for instance, by installing wheelchair ramps, designated parking spots, and Braille signage.

Today, 30 years later, the A.D.A. is still considered one of the most important pieces of American civil rights legislation ever signed into law.

Heumann would go on to spend much of her life trying to break down those barriers. She led sit-ins and other demonstrations. And she became one of the most prominent activists in the disability rights movement. That movement resulted in the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) on July 26, 1990. The federal law makes it illegal to discriminate against people because of their disabilities. It also mandates that places like schools, grocery stores, and theaters be made accessible. That can be achieved in various ways, including installing wheelchair ramps, designated parking spots, and Braille signage.

The A.D.A. was signed into law 30 years ago. But, even today, it‘s considered one of the most important pieces of American civil rights legislation.

“For a long time, people with disabilities had little to no rights across the United States,” says Keri Gray, a senior director at the American Association of People with Disabilities. “So the A.D.A. is a big piece of legislation that ensures that people with disabilities can not only exist in the United States but can thrive.”

Today, 61 million people in the U.S. have a disability, making the disabled community the largest minority group in the country. It includes people with visible disabilities—such as paralysis and Down syndrome—as well as invisible, or hidden, disabilities—such as Asperger syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.). A person’s disability can be permanent or temporary.

Despite the fact that one in four American adults have a disability, people with disabilities have had to overcome a long history of discrimination. Before the passage of the A.D.A., for example, restaurants could legally refuse to serve people and workplaces could legally refuse to hire people because of their disabilities.

People with disabilities were often looked down upon and segregated from society. In many states, they were barred from attending public schools. And many children with disabilities were sent away to institutions that were kept out of sight from the general public and where neglect and abuse were common.

There were also physical barriers that prevented people with disabilities from fully participating in society. Many of the things we take for granted today—including curb cutouts on street corners, wheelchair lifts on public buses, and ramps in front of buildings—were uncommon, keeping people with disabilities from having the same opportunities as people without disabilities.

“People who don’t have a disability often don’t think about it,” says Lindsey Patterson, a scholar on the disability rights movement. “But for people with disabilities, stairs can be the barrier between whether they have a job or not or if they can go to school or not.”

“For a long time, people with disabilities had little to no rights across the United States,” says Keri Gray, a senior director at the American Association of People with Disabilities. “So the A.D.A. is a big piece of legislation that ensures that people with disabilities can not only exist in the United States but can thrive.”

Today, 61 million people in the U.S. have a disability. That makes the disabled community the largest minority group in the country. It includes people with visible disabilities—such as paralysis and Down syndrome—as well as invisible, or hidden, disabilities—such as Asperger syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.). A person’s disability can be permanent or temporary.

One in four American adults have a disability. Despite that, people with disabilities have had to overcome a long history of discrimination. Before the passage of the A.D.A., for example, restaurants could legally refuse to serve people and workplaces could legally refuse to hire people because of their disabilities.

People with disabilities were often looked down upon and excluded. In many states, they weren‘t allowed to attend public schools. And many children with disabilities were sent away to institutions that were kept out of sight from the general public. Neglect and abuse were common in those settings.

There were also physical barriers that prevented people with disabilities from fully participating in society. Many of the things we take for granted today were uncommon. That includes curb cutouts on street corners, wheelchair lifts on public buses, and ramps in front of buildings. These barriers kept people with disabilities from having the same opportunities as people without disabilities.

“People who don’t have a disability often don’t think about it,” says Lindsey Patterson, a scholar on the disability rights movement. “But for people with disabilities, stairs can be the barrier between whether they have a job or not or if they can go to school or not.”

When the Civil Rights Act—which banned discrimination based on race—was signed into law in 1964, it inspired people with disabilities to also fight back against the injustices they faced.

After graduating from college at Long Island University in Brooklyn in 1969, Heumann won a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her teacher’s license because of her paralysis—becoming the first teacher in New York public schools with a wheelchair.

The victory thrust Heumann to the forefront of the disability rights movement, where she continued to protest for equal rights under the law. During one demonstration in 1972, she and other activists with disabilities parked their wheelchairs in the middle of Madison Avenue in New York City during rush hour—bringing traffic to a halt.

Those actions helped lead to the passage of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which laid the groundwork for the A.D.A. Section 504 of the act states that it’s illegal for any program receiving federal aid to discriminate against people with disabilities. That meant people with disabilities would have to be given equal access to all federal jobs and services, such as public housing.

But remodeling federal buildings to make them more accessible would require a lot of money. So the government stalled on taking action, and four years later, the law had still yet to be implemented.

Many people grew tired of waiting. On April 5, 1977, demonstrations took place across the country.

The Civil Rights Act was signed into law in 1964. It banned discrimination based on race. And it inspired people with disabilities to also fight back against the injustices they faced.

Heumann graduated from college at Long Island University in Brooklyn in 1969. Afterwards, she won a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her teacher’s license because of her paralysis. She went on to become the first teacher in New York public schools with a wheelchair.

The victory thrust Heumann to the forefront of the disability rights movement. As a part of the movement, she continued to protest for equal rights under the law. During one demonstration in 1972, she and other activists with disabilities parked their wheelchairs in the middle of Madison Avenue in New York City during rush hour. They brought traffic to a halt.

Those actions helped lead to the passage of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It laid the groundwork for the A.D.A. Section 504 of the act states that it’s illegal for any program receiving federal aid to discriminate against people with disabilities. That meant people with disabilities would have to be given equal access to all federal jobs and services, such as public housing.

But remodeling federal buildings to make them more accessible would cost a lot of money. So the government stalled on taking action. Four years later, the law had yet to be implemented.

Many people grew tired of waiting. On April 5, 1977, demonstrations took place across the country.

That day, Heumann wheeled her way into the office building of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in San Francisco with about 100 other activists. They refused to leave until Section 504 was put in place. Little did they know, their sit-in would end up lasting nearly a month—making it the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history.

Night after night, they slept on the cold, hard floor of the office building. Many hadn’t prepared to stay more than a day, so they had only the clothes on their backs.

The hot water and phone lines were cut off. But several of the protesters knew sign language, so they relayed messages through the windows to the press and supporters outside. Other organizations, including the civil rights group the Black Panthers, also provided assistance, bringing them food, soap, and supplies.

But the main thing that kept them going, Heumann says, was “the belief that we could do it—and the belief that if we quit it would be a national failure.”

Their determination paid off. On April 28, the regulations implementing Section 504 were finally signed.

“For the first time,” says Patterson, “it really proved nationwide that people with disabilities are also human and deserve civil rights.”

Section 504 applied only to federally funded buildings and programs. But it paved the way for the A.D.A., which would extend the regulations to privately run places and businesses.

Momentum for passing the A.D.A. soon picked up steam but stalled in the spring of 1990. To pressure Congress to pass the act, hundreds of protesters arrived on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 12. With news cameras rolling, dozens of them ditched their wheelchairs and crutches and pulled themselves up the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The dramatic protest came to be known as the Capitol Crawl. And it showed the world the importance of the A.D.A.—with its guarantee that places make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.

That day, Heumann wheeled her way into the office building of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in San Francisco. About 100 other activists joined her. They refused to leave until Section 504 was put in place. Little did they know, their sit-in would end up lasting nearly a month. It‘s actually the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history.

Night after night, they slept on the cold, hard floor of the office building. Many hadn’t prepared to stay more than a day, so they had only the clothes on their backs.

The hot water and phone lines were cut off. But several of the protesters knew sign language. They used that to relay messages through the windows to the press and supporters outside. Other organizations, including the civil rights group the Black Panthers, also helped. They gave the protestors food, soap, and supplies.

But the main thing that kept them going, Heumann says, was “the belief that we could do it—and the belief that if we quit, it would be a national failure.”

Their determination paid off. On April 28, the regulations implementing Section 504 were finally signed.

“For the first time,” says Patterson, “it really proved nationwide that people with disabilities are also human and deserve civil rights.”

Section 504 applied only to federally funded buildings and programs. But it paved the way for the A.D.A., which would extend the regulations to privately run places and businesses.

Momentum for passing the A.D.A. soon picked up steam but stalled in the spring of 1990. To pressure Congress to pass the act, hundreds of protesters arrived on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 12. With news cameras rolling, dozens of them ditched their wheelchairs and crutches and pulled themselves up the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The dramatic protest came to be known as the Capitol Crawl. And it showed the world the importance of the A.D.A. and its guarantee that places make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities.

Just over four months later, history was made. At a ceremony on the White House lawn in front of about 3,000 spectators, many of whom were in wheelchairs, President George H.W. Bush signed the landmark legislation, calling it a “declaration of equality.”

“Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down,” President Bush announced.

The passage of the A.D.A. means that schools, transportation, and other areas of life are supposed to be accessible to everyone. As a result, things like closed captioning and elevators are much more common today—and people like 21-year-old Jake Linn have grown up in a very different world from the one in which Heumann grew up.

Linn, a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has A.D.H.D., post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. He says the A.D.A. gives him confidence to be himself.

Just over four months later, history was made. At a ceremony on the White House lawn in front of about 3,000 spectators, many of whom were in wheelchairs, President George H.W. Bush signed the landmark legislation. He called it a “declaration of equality.”

“Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down,” President Bush announced.

The passage of the A.D.A. means that schools, transportation, and other areas of life are supposed to be accessible to everyone. As a result, things like closed captioning and elevators are much more common today. And people like 21-year-old Jake Linn have grown up in a very different world from the one in which Heumann grew up.

Linn, a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has A.D.H.D., post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. He says the A.D.A. gives him confidence to be himself.

“The A.D.A. for me means I’m not afraid of asking for accommodations from school, in academia, or the workplace,” he says.

However, people with disabilities still face challenges that people without disabilities don’t. Many places still aren’t fully accessible, for instance. Studies have found that students with disabilities are bullied at high rates. And only 31 percent of working-age people with disabilities were employed last year, compared with 75 percent of those without disabilities, according to the Department of Labor.

Linn says a big problem is that people with disabilities are still too often viewed in a negative light: as people to pity, fear, or loathe. He’s studying film in college, hoping to help change the way people with disabilities are portrayed on TV and in movies.

“People have gained their perceptions from media,” he says. “And there are often negative depictions of people with disabilities, which has affected people like me.” 

As for Heumann, she wants teenagers with disabilities to know that their rights are protected by the A.D.A.—and they’re not alone.

“I don’t want people to feel that they are lesser because they have a disability,” she says. “Ultimately, their disability gives them strength.”

“The A.D.A. for me means I’m not afraid of asking for accommodations from school, in academia, or the workplace,” he says.

But people with disabilities still face challenges that people without disabilities don’t. For instance, many places still aren’t fully accessible. Studies have found that students with disabilities are bullied at high rates. And only 31 percent of working-age people with disabilities were employed last year, compared with 75 percent of those without disabilities, according to the Department of Labor.

Linn says a big problem is that people with disabilities are still too often viewed in a negative light: as people to pity, fear, or loathe. He’s studying film in college, hoping to help change the way people with disabilities are portrayed on TV and in movies.

“People have gained their perceptions from media,” he says. “And there are often negative depictions of people with disabilities, which has affected people like me.”

As for Heumann, she wants teenagers with disabilities to know that their rights are protected by the A.D.A.—and they’re not alone.

“I don’t want people to feel that they are lesser because they have a disability,” she says. “Ultimately, their disability gives them strength.”