JULY: DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH By Gail K. Kachnycz on 31 July 2024
Some people may
not think of themselves as care-givers because they do not provide hands-on
care to their loved one. However, being an advocate for someone who needs
modifications or special support is just as important as physical care. Often
it can be just as demanding or time consuming.
July has been
designated Disability Pride Month, to commemorate the passage of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act
banned discrimination based on disability in all parts of public life. People
with disabilities could no longer be denied access to jobs, schools and
transportation. The law also included private places that are generally open to
the public, such as restaurants and movie theaters.” [1]
A recognizable
result of this law is the modification of public sidewalks with curb cuts and
ramps to the entry point of buildings. Opportunities for employment and
education opened up.
Other red-letter
dates include:
1975: Public Law (PL) 94-142; The Education for All
Handicapped Children Act. This guaranteed a Free and Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. In 1990, PL 94-142 was
reauthorized by Congress, and the name of the Act was changed to the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to use more contemporary and
respectful terms. [2]
1984: Halderman v. Pennhurst State School and Hospital. On
January 23, 1984, the US Supreme Court decided in favor of Terri Lee Halderman
and her family, and ruled that “an institution must be closed based on a
constitutional right to community services.”[3] This resulted in dozens of
disabled individuals being transferred from living in a large institution in
Pennsylvania, to living in small groups in community settings, known as
“community living arrangements” with special supports. Since the ruling was
from the Supreme Court, individuals in all states were afforded these
protections and freedoms.
In the situations described above, the people who needed to have their rights and freedoms secured required advocates to demand that they be treated with the care, respect and dignity that they deserved. Compassion, patience, and tenacity resulted in legislation and litigation that has benefited those with disabilities nationwide. As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, we salute advocates, both on the public and individual level, who demonstrate the Golden Rule in action.
So in everything, do
to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the
Prophets. Matthew 7:12 KJV
…you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18b NKJV
[1] www.npr.org In Their Own Words: How The Americans With Disabilities Act Changed People’s Lives, Morning Edition 7/27/2020. Accessed 7/31/2024
[2] http:www.ed.gov/print/policy/speced/idea/history.html Accessed 3/9/2005
[3]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennhurst_State_School_and_Hospital_v._Halderman
Accessed
6/25/2024
[3] http://www.preservepennhurst.org
Accessed 7/30/2024
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