Polio

Poliovirus

RNA virus targeting motor neurons; fecal-oral transmission

Post-Polio Syndrome

Late-onset disability affecting polio survivors decades later

Sanitation Thesis

Delayed exposure due to hygiene led to higher rates of paralysis

Iron Lung

Negative pressure ventilator used for respiratory paralysis

Elizabeth Kenny

Nurse who developed early physical therapy method

Jonas Salk

Developer of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)

Albert Sabin

Developer of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

Cutter Incident

1955 vaccine error that caused new polio infections

HeLa Cells

Immortal cell line taken from Henrietta Lacks without consent

Simon Flexner

Misguided researcher who delayed correct polio understanding

Warm Springs

FDR’s rehabilitation center; symbol of recovery and secrecy

March of Dimes

National fundraising campaign for polio research

DT Watson Home

Institution where unethical vaccine trials were conducted

IPV

Inactivated polio vaccine; requires injection

OPV

Oral polio vaccine; easier to distribute but riskier

ADA (1990)

Americans with Disabilities Act; civil rights for disabled people

Edward Roberts

Disability rights pioneer; Berkeley student, activist

Medical Model

Disability = personal defect

Social Model

Disability = barrier created by society

Vaccine-Derived Polio

Cases from mutated OPV strain in underserved regions