Tag Archives: disability activism

Article: “ADA 30 in Color’ panel discusses lived perspectives of disabled BIPOC on 30th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act”

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“To mark the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the #ADA30InColor online event was held July 26 to discuss a compilation of essays that reflect on the past, present and future of disabled people who are Black, Indigenous or people of color. The panel discussion included several authors who had contributed their essays and was moderated by communications and inclusion specialist Andraéa LaVant.

LeVant started off the discussion by asking Alice Wong why she created this series. Wong, the founder of the Disability Visibility Project and editor of the “ADA 30 in Color” series, said she had wanted to “recenter the work and the wisdom” of the disabled BIPOC community.” Continue reading at The Daily Californian.

Article: “3 Models Underlying Assumptions About Disability”

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“Backlash from disabled people about “The Witches” reveals harmful stereotypes.”

Kathleen Bogart

“Think about your underlying assumptions about disability. What causes disability? What are the sources of and solutions to disability-related challenges? Experts categorize ways of thinking about disability into three general models: moral, medical, or social (Olkin & Pledger, 2003). Our beliefs about disability are reflected in and perpetuated by media depictions.” Continue reading this article, authored by Kathleen Bogart Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Psychology at Oregon State University, at Psychology Today.

Article: “One Laid Groundwork For The ADA; The Other Grew Up Under Its Promises”

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“We will no longer allow the government to oppress disabled individuals. We want the law enforced.”

Judy Heumann, a founder of the Disability Rights Movement

“Before the Americans with Disabilities Act granted people with disabilities greater protection and accessibility, a little-known law set the groundwork.

In 1977, Judy Heumann helped lead a peaceful protest that forced the government to follow through with Section 504. As part of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the law would force hospitals, universities and other public spaces that received federal money, to remove barriers to accessibility for all Americans. But its implementation was long delayed over the costs necessary to retrofit buildings to comply with the law.” Continue reading this article, which includes a 4-minute podcast of Judy Heumann speaking about the significance of The Americans with Disabilities Act, at NPR.

Chalking for a Cause: #BeautyForAccess

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On a beautiful September morning, a group of chalk artists of various ages and (dis)abilities gathered in downtown Corvallis to kick off the sidewalk chalk art campaign Beauty For Access. Beauty For Access helps mark the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act while also calling caring public attention to the ongoing inaccessibility of material environments for people with disabilities. Participants beautified material spaces (e.g. sidewalks and plazas) to imagine them as more welcoming to the bodyminds of disabled people.

  • Josephine and Allison getting ready to make art
  • Abstract chalk art shaped like petals and lightning bolts points to an uneven part of the sidewalk
  • George and Laura create sidewalk art
  • A group of five chalk artists stands six feet apart from a pair of chalk artists in sunny downtown Corvallis; both gorups are holding containers of chalk.

Dorian is traveling down a sidewalk in his wheelchair on a sunny day with a small dog in his lap.

Article: “30 years after the ADA, disability justice activists are rethinking what true equity looks like”

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Article Preview: “When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 30 years ago, it was the culmination of decades of activism, sacrifice and struggle by people with disabilities to protect basic rights long denied. The New York Times called the law at the time ‘the most sweeping anti-discrimination measure since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.’ For the first time, discrimination against people with disabilities was prohibited by law. The ADA required reasonable accommodations in transportation, employment and public services. But as with many things related to civil rights, too often the reality has not lived up to the law’s promise.” Continue reading this article by Naomi Ishisaka at the Seattle Times.