Publications and Research
Document Type
Other
Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
This paper seeks to answer the following research question: “How does the modern-day disability rights movement compare to activist efforts in the 20th century?” I begin with an exploration of the discriminatory policies that the 20th century disability rights movement fought against, such as institutionalization, eugenics, and structural accessibility. I then discuss demonstrations such as the 1977 504 Sit-In and the ADA “Capitol Crawl,” paying particular attention to the movement’s popularity across intersections of identity. I then move on to the 21st century, starting with disability activists’ demonstrations against Bush-era policies on mental health and court cases that attempted to gut anti-discrimination laws. I touch on contemporary issues affecting disabled people such as COVID-19 and attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Then, I delve into the benefits and drawbacks of digital activism, such as the enhanced ability to disseminate information that comes up against its own accessibility issues and division within the disabled community. Regardless, digital activism is here to stay and its implications demand our attention.
