Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act - 1973

In 1993, I read a book called "No Pity," by Joseph Shapiro. It introduced me to a lot of ideas, and concepts behind the disability rights movement of the late 60's and 70's. One of the things that inspired me the most was Section 504, which mandates the all federal and state governments to include people with disabilities. HEW (now called DHS) got taken over for over 50 days by people with disabilities, and in the end, congress got it signed into law. Why is this such a powerful movement for me? Perhaps it's because I have a disability myself, but I think of it as a much bigger picture. A minority of a small group of people can change the world, and even make it better. Without Section 504, people with disabilities would be stuck in our world, and would not be able to be on the equal playing field when it came to programatic, and physical access. This law was exciting because it banned discrimination, which one can argue still exists today. Section 504 was on NPR recently, and a lot of my friends, coworkers, and other professionals that I know, have lived and died in the struggle to keep 504, and the ADA alive for future generations of folks with disabilities. I hope as you listen to the link below, that you reflect on the leaders in this country, and what is to come of the future of the disability rights movement.

I owe a great deal of my education, many different jobs that I have had, and for all the accommodations that I would not be entitled to if 504 had not been in place. 504 was enacting a great set of laws that only happened because all my disabled brothers and sisters, similar to other civil rights movements, refused to move from the federal building, and had the longest successful sit-in in history, to this day. Please listen to the link below, and think about what we can do together, and the awesome power of "people power."

504 Sit-in webcast