Disability Movement in the 1960’s

Unit 9

SS310: 3 Exploring the 1960s: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Instructor: Bettie Ware
Lisa D Rowe
2/5/2012
 Disability Movement in the 1960’s

Many events during the 1960’s helped in the movement for the disabled citizen. No one

event is any more significant than another. Each event and person that contributed to this

movement helped set the path for future improvements and laws to protect and help the disabled.

On Feb 14, 1962 President Kennedy with Executive Order 10994 amended the committee and

changed the name from The President’s Committee on Employment of the Physically

Handicapped to the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped reflecting

increased interest in employment issues affecting people with cognitive disabilities and mental

illness.

The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is an independent

Federal agency. The Chairman and Vice Chairs are appointed by the President. The Committee's

mission is to facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and private

efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The Committee provides

information, training, and technical assistance to business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation

and service providers, advocacy organizations, and families and individuals with disabilities. The

Committee reports to the President on the progress and problems of maximizing employment

opportunities for people with disabilities. (Executive Order 10994, 2012)

After this executive order there have been several amendments issued by President

Reagan, President Clinton and as recently as President Obama to improve the rights of disabled

individuals. Although this committee started with the provisions of the Joint Resolution

approved July 11, 1949, the committee continues to improve with each presidency. The biggest

improvement came with President Kennedy in 1962 when he changed the committee to include

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all disabilities not just the physically handicapped. This was a huge step for the people affected

by mental illness and cognitive disabilities.

Although the government was slow to acknowledge people with disabilities the 1960’s

and the civil rights movement helped bring the plight of minorities, which included the disabled,

to public awareness. Without these steps the Americans with Disability Act may never have

happened which also includes the much needed service animals section for disabled individuals.

As society and technologies progress these acts continue to be amended in order to accommodate

people with disabilities. United States regulations for service animals are 28 CFR § 35.104 and

28 CFR § 36.104. They specifically discuss what is a service animal and what the laws are in

regards to allowing service animals in public places. Many people today do not understand the

rules and regulations involving service animals, which makes it difficult for the disabled person.

(Definition of a Service Animal, 2012) The 1960’s paved the way to help the plight of the

disabled but it was not until the 1970’s and beyond that more powerful legislation and laws were

passed.

Each state has its’ own regulations for service animals. If they conflict with the federal

regulations, the federal regulations supersede any state regulations. Idaho’s disability law for

service animals defines what a service animal should be; “The Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA) defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually

trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition,

animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been

licensed or certified by a state or local government.” (Service Animals / Animal Assistors, 2012)

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If committees, laws and regulations would not have been created and passed, society’s

views about disabled individuals would not have progressed. Disabled individuals would not be

able to hold jobs, have the freedom to live where they choose or have access to public places.

Services and community programs would not have been created in order to help disabled

individuals. Many advances with the rights of disabled Americans would not have been created.

Disabled children can now be mainstreamed and have the same learning opportunities as

“typical” children. Without the committees and regulation passed in the 1960’s disabled children

and adults would continue to be locked away and hidden from society. Disabled individuals and

parents of disabled children still have to fight for their rights but law and regulations help give

the disabled person and their families a chance to continue the fight.

Growing up I was not aware of the plight of the disabled person or how difficult it was

for them to “fit into society”. It was not until I became an adult and adopted two special needs

children that I found just how difficult it is for disabled people in society. I had to learn how to

be a good advocate for my children. I had access to the internet, books and the advice of people

that helped pave the way for the disabled community to thrive. Despite these advantages if one

does not know the law or how to interpret the rules correctly it is not much help when one has to

fight agencies that have easy access to lawyers.

I received my sons when they were one and two years old. They have fetal alcohol

spectrum disorder along with secondary disabilities. It has been a struggle to get appropriate

help for them because they look “normal”. Many people still have misconceptions about what a

disability is, and what it looks like. My sons have no physical handicaps but they have mental

illness, borderline mental retardation, which includes cognitive problems, and emotional and

behavioral issues. Although cognitive and mental illness disabilities have been recognized by

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law since the 1960’s resources to help people with these disabilities are severely lacking in most

communities.

My sons are now fifteen and sixteen years old. It has taken me over 14 years to get the

appropriate help they deserve. I still struggle with the schools. The no child left behind act is

misunderstood and interpreted by the schools in a way to make them come out financially ahead.

The school provides the minimum resources so they are compliant with the law. Unfortunately it

is my sons and many like them that get hurt in the end. I continue to fight with the counties in

Ohio to provide the appropriate services for them. I decided to go to school to specialize in laws

to help disabled children and adults. I will always have to advocate for my sons. I want to know

the appropriate way to interpret the laws so I can help them succeed and continue to get

appropriate services.

Advocating for my sons has made me realize how important it is to know the law. Even

more important is being able to apply the law appropriately. I have had to learn about adoption

assistance and how it works both at the federal level and the state level. I have learned the

different state regulations for juveniles with a disability that become involved in the legal

system. Each state is different and their rights are different between Ohio and Idaho. Medicaid

has different benefits from state to state. Medicaid does have specific benefits that are covered at

a federal level but each state is allowed to have additional benefits the state covers.

One unique and challenging legal issue that I have faced is having a service dog for my

son. Most private businesses as well as schools do not understand the section of the Americans

with Disability Act that applies to service animals. We received my son’s service dog in May

2011. He helps keep my son safe and helps him control his behaviors so he can function in a

social setting. He has rescued my son on several occasions by tracking him when he has run

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away. We can also take my son out in public and know he will be safe with us because he is

tethered to the dog. With the help and intervention of my son’s service dog, my son’s

meltdowns now last ten to fifteen minutes. Before the dog came into his life, his meltdowns

lasted one to two hours. I am thankful to the disability movement of the 1960’s. Without people

fighting for the rights of the disabled person my sons would not have the many opportunities

they have today. Our life and especially my sons’ lives would be much different.

Dealing with agencies and schools that refuse to give parents help and whom continue to

pass the responsibility onto others has helped me decide to pursue my law degree. Adopting my

sons has been a blessing in many ways as well as a struggle. If I would not have adopted them I

would not understand what families and the disabled person endure in their daily lives just to get

by. If I would have never had this experience or adopted my sons, I would not be involved in

law and would have remained in the information technology field.

The laws have changed and have improved over time for the disabled but the laws will

have to continue to be refined so the disabled citizen continues to have the same opportunities as

the rest of society. Society seems to have accepted disabled people but unfortunately agencies

that could help disabled people seemed to be more concerned with their budgets than actually

providing the much needed services. Parents with disabled children seem to have an

exceptionally hard time. Not only do they have to make sure their children are safe and provided

for but they have to waste their time and energy by fighting agencies to make them provide

services for their disabled children.

It is thanks to people like Ed Roberts, a quadriplegic paralyzed from the neck down due

to childhood polio, that society has come to realize the disabled person can and does contribute

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to society. In 1962 Ed Roberts achieved admission to the University of California at Berkeley,

helping to add a victory to the 1960s disability movement. (Human rights of persons with

disabilities, 2012) Without the many battles fought and won on behalf of the disabled the world

would be much different, not only for the disabled but for society as well. Instead of getting help

for the disabled they would be institutionalized or jailed. This does not allow them to contribute

to society and then puts a burden on the community and forces many institutions and jails to be

overcrowded with people not getting appropriate treatment.

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References

Definition of a Service Animal. Retrieved on 02/05/2012 from

http://www.nfbohio.org/html/service_animal.html

Executive Order 10994. Retrieved on 02/05/2012 from

http://www.thecre.com/fedlaw/legal6a/eo10994.htm

Human Rights Education Association (2012). Human rights of persons with disabilities.
Retrieved on 02/05/2012 from http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=416

Idaho Health and Welfare (2012). Service Animals / Animal Assistors. Retrieved on 02/05/2012
from http://www.211.idaho.gov/elibrary/ServiceAnimals.html

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