The Americans With Disabilities Act was passed after years of protests, organizing and pressure led by people with disabilities, who demanded equal access to American society. This short video traces the history of the A.D.A., from demonstrations in the 1970s to the landmark 1990 law that reshaped access to schools, workplaces and public spaces. It introduces leaders of the movement, who used sit-ins, lobbying, bus blockades and the Capitol Crawl to push Congress to act.
The video explores how the A.D.A. changed daily life, from accessible buses to legal protections. As Pat Wright, a co-founder of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, said, “All people belonged in society.”
View transcript here.