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Social Security Act becomes law
Provides assistance for those who are blind, and for disabled children. -
Dusky v. United States
Landmark Supreme Court case granting a defendant's right to have a competency evaluation before facing trial. -
Ed Roberts begins attending UC Berkeley
Ed was the first student with a severe disability to be admitted to Cal. They attempted to revoke his admission upon learning about his iron lung, but he insisted on attending anyway. This was the first of many rights he advocated for disabled students in higher education. Photo source -
Voting Rights Act
This provided many voting protections for people of color, but also allowed people who are blind or otherwise disabled to choose someone to help fill out their ballot so long as that person is not their employer or a union representative. Later acts mandated polling places and stations be accessible, and help be provided to register to vote. Photo source -
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by those providing housing (for example, landlords, or banks providing mortgages) on the basis of disability or other forms of bigotry. It also requires that new construction of multi-family units be accessible to people with disabilities. The Fair Housing Act is Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. -
Architectural Barriers Act
Buildings "designed, built, or altered with federal dollars or leased by federal agencies" must be accessible to people with physical disabilities. -
Higher Education Act amended- Title IX
Title IX amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. It is most known for prohibiting sex-based discrimination, but it also prohibits discrimination based on blindness or visual impairment. -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This vital act is considered a precursor to the ADA. It provided equal access and equal rights for people with disabilities. -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
The act required that all public schools receiving federal funds to allow children with disabilities (physical, mental, and intellectual) to equally access education. Students receive evaluations by schools as well as individualized educational plans (IEPs) which prioritize keeping educational experiences as similar as possible to students without disabilities. -
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504 Sit-in
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 technically provided federal protections for people with disabilities, but section 504- which granted equal access to public buildings- went unenforced for 4 years. Sit-ins began nationwide. The longest one occurred in San Francisco. -
Air Carriers Access Act
Prevents disability-based discrimination during air travel, mandates that facilities be made accessible, and outlines certain required services and accommodations. -
ADA became law
The Americans with Disabilities Act "prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities" (2022). -
Higher Education Opportunity Act
The Higher Education Act of 1965 was reauthorized in 2008 and renamed to the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The HEOA made higher education "more accessible and affordable for young adults with disabilities," especially for those with intellectual disabilities (Mandaus et al., 2012). It is currently operating under temporary reauthorization.