From the invention of wheelchairs to the millions of Special Ed teachers who encourage our children to follow their dreams, we have much to be thankful for. While there is still much to be done in order to achieve a truly inclusive world, we must first celebrate what we have accomplished by thanking those who have advocated tirelessly for the rights of people with special needs. Let’s remember what has been accomplished in the Disability Rights Movement, as we continue to advocate for a more inclusive society.
In the 1800s, our world was a lot worse for people with special needs. Often times, they were unfortunately ridiculed and insulted in public, and society sought to hide them with institutions and asylums. The conditions there were very harsh for those with mental illnesses and many were subjected to beatings among other things.
Although there was a lot of discrimination in the 1800s, there were a few notable instances in which brave men and women came together to promote inclusion and awareness. One of the most notable advocates was Dorothea Dix, who was the superintendent of the army nurses in the American Civil War. Throughout her career, she worked tirelessly to improve how mental health patients were treated in hospitals and institutions. Her campaign to raise awareness has resulted in more humane treatment and has inspired research about mental special needs as autism and down syndrome.
Sources claim that the official start to the Disability Rights Movement was after World War I. When our troops came back home, many were injured and needed medical care. However, many veterans of the war either could not afford treatment or were not given adequate care. Millions of veterans fought for better disability benefits and found organizations such as The American Legion to shed light on this issue. Due to their efforts, FDR passed the GI Bill to support veterans with needs. In addition to the GI Bill, President Roosevelt had a huge influence on the movement. He was the first president with special needs to take office and was one of the most well-respected presidents that we have ever had. FDR was able to pull us from the shackles of the Great Depression and showed great strength as he led us through WWII. During his presidency, he also did much to help others with special needs. For example, he founded a center called “Warm Springs” where people with special needs could benefit from therapy and most importantly from living together as a community.
Many people were inspired by the advocacy of the WWI veterans and FDR and contributed their voices to the movement. For example, organizations such as the League of the Physically Handicapped and We Are Not Alone, which helped psychiatric patients transition from the hospital to the community, formed. In addition, presidents that succeeded FDR contributed to the movement as well. President Truman created the National Institution of Mental Health in 1948, and President Kennedy organized a variety of research committees to improve medical treatment.
More to come in December along with citation section...
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