How it All Began
By means of the Disability Movement, several laws had been passed and the Constitution had been amended in order to accommodate handicapped citizens more thoroughly. Before the movement, the disabled were entitled to only basic rights and faced many discriminations against their incapacities. For example, many were placed in large institutions excluded from the rest of the community and were deprived of the freedom to live with their own families. Public schools could legally deny the admission of handicapped children. Disabled adults were not provided with many benefits and federal aid if they procured a job, nor could they hold a permanent job position. Public buildings and transportation system were not accessible to them. These were only some of the numerous and discriminatory limitations imposed upon their rights. The public, however, did not perceive their prejudice toward the handicapped as a form of discrimination, for it was only associated with race or sex, not physical abilities. After witnessing the success of other civil rights movements, people with disabilities and those who supported them felt it was time to act to permanently amend the Constitution and affirm the rights they are entitled to. In other words, they wanted to remind the country that "all men are created equal" (US Constitution) and that they were people, too. So, local groups, organizations, and social movements that were advocates of the disabled began to protest against the injustice and testify for equal rights. Many were ignored, arrested, and mistreated. But, they continued their work until the legislation was amended for the betterment of the lives of the underrepresented disabled. Through hard work and determination, advocates of the Disability Movement were able to achieve great accomplishments and help disabled citizens gain their much deserved rights.