Disability in the United States at 250: A History of Exclusion and Progress
By
Carrie Gillispie
Summary
A reflective piece examining disability in America through the lens of the nation's 250th anniversary. It traces U.S. disability history from the Declaration of Independence's exclusionary language through key milestones — the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the independent living movement, and ongoing struggles for accessibility, employment, and civil rights. The article argues that the American dream remains incomplete without full inclusion of disabled people, and uses the 250th milestone to assess how far the country has come and how far it still needs to go.
Source
bskyDisability in the United States at 250: A History of Exclusion and Progressnewamerica.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe Declaration of Independence declared that 'all men are created equal' — but from the start, disabled people were left out of that promise.
The ADA was a landmark, but thirty-five years later, disabled Americans still face higher unemployment, lower wages, and persistent barriers to full participation.
The American dream cannot be real if it is not accessible to everyone.
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