Why Is The History of People With Disabilities Important

Just like anything, you are where you are because of your history, and history shapes the future. What we believe is important today will have an impact on what happens tomorrow.

• It wasn’t until the 1950’s that parents began to break ground and take a stand for their children.
• 1960’s politics became involved. During JFK’s first year in his presidency, he formed the President’s Panel on Mental Retardation. In respect to people who have mental retardation this Panel was renamed five years ago. It is now called The President’s Committee for Intellectual Disabilities. John F. Kennedy’s policymaking was directly inspired by his oldest sister, Rosemary Kennedy who had mild mental retardation and lived to be 86 years old.
• 1970’s Deinstitutionalization began. Up to this point about 128,000 people with disabilities were institutionalized. Can you imagine that? The notion of least restrictive environment-LRE, self-advocacy, and the independent living movement began to emerge. In 1975 IDEA-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted.
• 1980’s The U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of group homes in neighborhoods, deinstitutionalization continues to decrease and major strides are made in employment.
• 1990’s Some states are institution free. The goals of inclusion, choice and self-advocacy are pursued with vigor.
• 2000 New community and family living amendments pass. ADA-American with Disabilities Act ensures no restrictive public environments.