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Disabilities Legilation in the United States
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Terrible Treatment
Prior to 1900, disabled people were treated terribly. They were throught to be immoral, corrupt, and stupid. Up until the 1970s many were sterilized (Disability Right History Timeline). -
The Smith-Sears Veterans Rehabilitation Act
After World War I this act was created to expand the rold of the Federal Board of Vocational Education to promote services for vocational rehabilitation for disabled veterans. This was the first legilation that made an effort to help people with disabilities( Disbility Right History Timeline).
This act was updated after every major conflict which the United States entered into (Welch, P., A Brief History of Disability Rights Legislation in the United States). -
The Social Security Act
The Social Security Act is passed by congress and singed into law by President Roosevelt, established the federal program to give benefits to retired (old-aged) people and gave funding to states for assistance to the blind and disabled children. This was an extenion of the rehabilitation acts that were put in place for veterans (AADP). -
1943 LaFollette-Barden Vocational Rehabilitation Act
This act added physical rehabilitation to the goals of federally funded vocational rehabilitation programs and provided funding for some health care services (AADP). -
Social Security Disability Insurace
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program was created for disabled workers aged 50-64. In 1958 it was expanded to dependents of disabled workers, and in 1960 the age restrictions were lifted (AADP). -
Architectural Barriers Act
The 1968 Architectural Barriers Act prohibited architectural barriers in all federally owned or leased buildings. It took some time, but eventually this was expanded to almost all buildings (AADP). -
Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act was passed, prohibiting discrimination in any programs conducted by federal agencies or receiving federal funds (AADP). -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
IDEA was established, which required free, appropriate public education in the least restructive setting for all children (Originally called, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act). The Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights Act, Community Services Act and Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act all expanded services for individuals with disabilities (AAPD). -
The Americans with Disabilities Act
President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law (AADP). -
ADA Amended
President George W. Bush restors the civil rights of Americans with disabilities and overturns four Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed the protections of the ADA (AADP). -
The Patient Protection and Afordable Care Act (ACA)
President Obama signs the ACA into law, which makes major changes to the health care and insurance regulations, including various provisions that will affect people wiht disabilities. It addresses accessibility and nondiscrimination, affordability, coverage, home and community-based services, equipment, training and data collection and Medicaid (AADP). -
7% of Federal Work Force to be Individuals with Disabilities
President Obama and the U.S. Labor Department issued a proposed rule that would require federal contractors to set goals that 7% of their work force woudl be individuals with disabilities. This rule was based upon an interpretation of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (AADP).
