Question

1. Compare the disabled rights movement to the civil rights movement. Discuss the connection between the civil rights movement to secure the rights of African-Americans to the rights movement that fought for the rights of persons with disabilities.

2. Find an article relating to the struggle of persons with disabilities to achieve equal rights in any one of the areas mentioned above. (Please no articles on the ADA as we will focus on legal aspects later in the course). Summarize the article (your own words) and provide the link. Generate a question pertaining to its findings for your colleagues.

Answer 1

1) The disabled rights movement focuses more o the issues experienced by handicaps or invalids in the society. It is pertaining to a particular sect of the society that is based on physical/mental abilities. On the other hand, the civil rights movement to secure the rights of African-Americans is something that deals with abolishing racial prejudice. It doesn't aim to help a certain societal sect based on abilities but rather based on racial minorities.

2) The given article relates to the struggle faced by activists fighting for disabled people since 1977. It focuses on the various challenges and successes experienced by these activists in preventing discrimination and propagating equality for disabled people. The disabled rights movement has caught up momentum in the US with more reformed policies being implemented to foster the spirit and strength of the disabled community. The definition and perception of disability have also undergone drastic modifications over the decades. People are becoming more receptive towards the needs and issues faced by disabled people. However, there still needs to be a major shift in the way we approach disability in society.

Here is the link to the article:- https://www.nps.gov/articles/disabilityhistoryrightsmovement.htm