Disability Rights

Camp Jened

a groundbreaking 1950s–1970s summer camp in upstate New York for people with disabilities, which served as a crucial breeding ground for the US disability rights movement. It provided a rare, inclusive space for disabled teenagers to experience freedom, community, and romance, empowering them to fight for independence and equality

504 Sit-in

A 1977 disability rights protest where activists occupied federal buildings to demand enforcement of Section 504. The San Francisco sit-in was especially important. It is significant because it helped force the government to enforce disability civil rights protections.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

A federal law that banned discrimination against disabled people in federally funded programs. Section 504 was especially important. It is significant because it was one of the first major disability civil rights laws and helped lead to the ADA.

Curb Cut

A small ramp built into sidewalks to make streets accessible for wheelchair users. It is significant because it shows how disability access can benefit everyone, including parents with strollers, travelers, and delivery workers. This is called the “curb-cut effect.”