“We will no longer allow the government to oppress disabled individuals. We want the law enforced. We want no more segregation.”
–Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activist
Inspired by leaders like Justin Dart, and by the success of civil rights protesters, thousands of demonstrators with disabilities have been lobbying for equal rights since the ’70s.
Today, their long fight took them to the White House lawn, where President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dart received the first pen used in the signing.
The new law forbids discrimination on the job and in public places like buses, restaurants, hotels and stores.
Now, more than 43 million disabled Americans are guaranteed “reasonable accommodations” to meet their needs.
