Timeline of disability rights in the United States

Timeline of Disability Rights in the United States

The timeline of disability rights in the United States highlights significant events and legislation that have shaped the rights and lives of people with disabilities. This timeline outlines key moments in the struggle for equality and accessibility.

19th Century

1817

• The American School for the Deaf is founded in Hartford, Connecticut, becoming the first permanent school for the deaf in the United States.

1880

• The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is established to advocate for the rights of deaf individuals.

20th Century

1920

• The Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1920 is passed, providing federal funds for vocational training for people with disabilities.

1945

• The National Mental Health Act is signed into law, leading to the establishment of the National Institute of Mental Health.

1968

• The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 is enacted, requiring that buildings and facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal funds be accessible to people with disabilities.

1973

• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is passed, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors.

1975

• The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is enacted, requiring public schools to provide equal access to education for children with disabilities.

1988

• The Fair Housing Amendments Act is passed, prohibiting discrimination in housing based on disability and requiring landlords to allow reasonable modifications to accommodate people with disabilities.

1990

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is signed into law, prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public.

21st Century

2008

• The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 is enacted, broadening the definition of disability and expanding the protections of the original ADA.

2010

• The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act is signed into law, ensuring that new technologies are accessible to people with disabilities.

See Also

• Disability rights movement
• List of disability rights activists
• History of disability in the United States