Historical Context
Disability has existed for as long as people have; it is an ancient concept. Although disability has not changed, societal views of the meaning of disability have changed over time. In medieval Europe—which would heavily influence the earliest colonies in America—disability was considered a godly punishment for the sin of an individual or of his or her ancestors. Another common perception viewed disability as the work of the devil. Disability was considered to be a failure, deformity or defect of the individual. Consequently, the disabled were feared, stigmatized, shunned, abused, and condemned. People with mental disorders were deemed “insane.” Those with severe disabilities were housebound, isolated from their communities, and denied education, care, employment, and familial and societal roles. On top of this, they were often viewed as a burden to their families and to society as a whole, with some societies forcing the disabled to become beggars, having no other means of support.
A depiction of an almshouse (1700s)
In late 1700s colonial America, towns provided poor farms and almshouses as places to house and support those in need. People with disabilities, criminals, and paupers were often lumped under one roof. Such facilities were often overcrowded, dirty, and unregulated. Men and women lived in the same space with little supervision. Those who lived at poor farms were typically placed there involuntarily. By the 1800s, inmate numbers expanded—allegedly as a byproduct of industrialization—and overcrowding became an issue. During the Industrial Revolution, individuals with disabilities, whether physical or cognitive, were often placed in "lunatic" and "insane" asylums. The negative, “othering” stigma surrounding the mentally disabled and the handicapped was prominent very early on. This has had lasting effects for centuries to come, which is why it is important to note this particular history.
By the 1800s, disability began to be viewed as a medical problem caused by disease, trauma, or other conditions. While the stigma still existed, this led to the medical model of disability, the goal of which was to cure the disabling condition of the individual. The medical model presented physicians as experts who knew what was best for the disabled, contrary to the disabled themselves, considered incapable of knowing their needs.
A depiction of a doctor "treating" a disabled patient
In more recent times, disability has been viewed as a result of environmental and societal factors that serve as barriers to full participation communities or families, and to obtaining proper care and services. According to the research paper Brief Historical View of Disability and Related Legislation, “Individuals with disability, their families, and advocacy groups have viewed disability as a consequence of an inaccessible environment and rejected the medical model in favor of other models, such as the social and biopsychosocial models of disability that address barriers to health care from different perspectives.”
The 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which addresses disability prejudice, prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the workplace, in programs, and activities. However, the regulations for Section 504 of this act were written but not implemented. Four years later in 1977, the disability rights community demanded that President Carter sign these regulations. After a long process including protests and sit-ins, the regulations were signed.
Disability Rights Movement (1977)
Other laws like the 1975 Education of All Handicapped Children Act, which guaranteed children with disabilities the right to public school education, have occurred primarily thanks to efforts of activists protesting for their rights as well as working with the U.S. government. The Disability Rights movement caused the United States Congress to pass over 50 pieces of legislation between the 1960s and the passage of the ADA in 1990.
Perhaps the most important effort to resolve the issue of discrimination, inaccessibility, and inequality of the disabled was the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which made waves for granting accessibility and equal rights. This national legislature prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities in many aspects of public life. Subsequently, the 2008 passage of the ADA Amendments Act expanded even further on the rules and regulations protecting the rights of the disabled.
President George Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 on July 26, 1990