George W. Bush signs the Disability Act

     During George W. Bush's' presidency, he honored the 13^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by signing the executive order, renaming the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation to the Presidents Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID). This law will restore the original intent of Congress during the time ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) when it became a law back in 1990. Prior to this, the ADA had been weakened by the Supreme Court and narrowed the scope of the law and how it should be implemented.

Lutheran Church Changes their Plans to Accept the Disabled

    Before the Disabilities Act (1990), the American Lutheran Church were unwilling to accept disabled people from entering the ministry. The Church believes that people with significant psychical or mental handicaps might not be eligible for the ministry. They based their belief on specific neurological and heart disorders, and advanced diabetes was easily disqualified. What I don’t understand is why they are not allowed to join the ministry if they have those conditions. David W. Preus had this to say about the situation,

'It must be simply and forthrightly stated that the American Lutheran Church does not categorically bar persons with disabilities”

The article never states the reason behind why they don’t accept people with disabilities. Sure, they might have a difficult time while they are in the ministry, but that shouldn’t stop them from being accepted into it. The Lutheran Church received so many complaints that they were forced to remove the policy. Many people were glad they removed it simply because everyone who has the ability to enter a profession should be able to.  

Disablities Act of 1990

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law addressing the rights of disabled persons. Groups of the National Council on Disability lobbied Congress and state legislator to ensure the safety of 45 million people with disabilities in the country of United States. Since the act was put in place, it’s helped many people who struggle with disabilities to be treated equally as everyone else. The purpose of the act is:

(1) to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities;

(2) to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities;

(3) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a central role in enforcing the standards established in this Act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and

(4) to invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the fourteenth amendment and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with disabilities.

This was a big role for the Government to play for the disabled people of our nation. 1990 was a decade that strongly supported people who have disabilities and helped shape our involvement with disabilities today. Many people take part in building friendships with the disabled and understanding that they are just like we are.

Senate Passes Bill to Benefit the Lives of the Disabled

May 15, 1997 After the Disabilities Act benefited many people who suffer from a disability, the Senate decided to pass a major rewrite of the Civil Rights bill guaranteeing a public education for the U.S nations 5.4 million disabled students. President Clinton was a strong support of the measure and proudly signed the bill into a law by the end of March. Many believed the bill addressed a wide range of issues which is why it was an important step of granting new regulations that would benefit the lives of the disabled. However, the biggest concern was how to discipline those who can be a vital threat to themselves or others around them.

“A sticking point in the bill had been just how to discipline very disruptive or dangerous special-education students while also protecting the rights of the disabled.

The measure that passed yesterday prevents educators from ceasing services for any disabled child, but it gives local school officials the authority to suspend for up to 45 days a special education student who brings guns or drugs to school or who poses a threat to himself or others.

The bill stipulates that a hearing officer decide the fate of the child during that period and whether he or she should be returned to school or placed in another program”

Mr. Gorton argued that the disciplining methods should be taken care of by the educators and parents, not senators. Senators barely know the conditions of the student and the situation. It would only be fair if the educators agree upon a disciplining strategy to handle the student’s issue. However, overall I believe establishing a rewrite to the Civil Rights guaranteed a better life for the disabled community.

Protest for a Deaf President

     1988 Washington D.C, at Gallaudet University, a protest broke out involving many who ad various disabilities, had impacted U.S Health, Education, and Welfare Department Headquarters in 1977, still had not received much publicity nationwide as a civil rights issue. President Jerry Lee of Gallaudet University announced his departure, so he was in search of new committee presidential candidates. He was suddenly outraged that for 124 years of the world’s top university for the deaf had operated by not allowing a deaf person to become president. ABC Clio introduces the protest of allowing the deaf to become president of Gallaudet University.

“They decided to hold a rally. Flyers carried the message, "In 1842, a Roman Catholic became president of the University of Notre Dame. In 1875, a woman became president of Wellesley College. In 1886, a Jew became president of Yeshiva University. And in 1926, a Black person became president of Howard University. AND in 1988, the Gallaudet University presidency belongs to a DEAF person." Thousand of buttons read "DEAF PRESIDENT NOW," which became the slogan for the protest.

At the rally on March 1, 1988, about a dozen speakers standing on the bed of a truck signed civil rights messages. The rally moved from site to site on campus, followed by about 1,500 students, alumni, and faculty chanting and waving the sign for applause. Coincidentally, a few minutes before the rally began, the names of the three finalists under consideration by the search committee were announced. They were I. King Jordan, the popular dean of the college of arts and sciences, who had been deaf since young adulthood; Harvey Corson, president of a Louisiana residential school, who had been deaf since birth; and Elisabeth Zinser, the administrator of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who was a hearing person".

Since Elisabeth Zinser was chosen, students worked hard to prevent her from going on campus grounds. The protest grew so large, that students took their issues directly to Congress, because Gallaudet is a federally charter university. Zinser stood no chance to win against the students and eventually was forced to resign. Week after the protesters began, 17 members of Gallaudet’s board selected Jordan as the schools first deaf president. This protest demonstrates the power that we as individuals have. By working together we can allow our ideas to be heard and major changes to society can occur. Its remarkable to now see a Gallaudet University have a deaf president all because of a group of protesters than never gave up on believing in hope.

Bussiness are Forced to Make Alterations for the Disabled

    During the Bush Administration, President Bush proposed regulations that require businesses to make structural alterations to offices and stores to hold the disabled citizens. Regulations of the Disabilities Act will also be strongly reinforced and the businesses must oblige to giving the disabled customers equal level of service as other customers. Reported by the New York Times, these regulations would gain so much respect for those who are disabilities because they can finally be treated

"For example, restaurants would have to make sure that blind customers are aware of what dishes are available, either by providing menus in Braille or having a waiter read the selections. Banks would have to make automatic teller machines accessible to disabled individuals, largely by building or moving the machines low enough to be reached by people in wheelchairs".

The regulations were put in place to handle public establishments to accommodate for the disabled community. If the law is not obeyed, regulators ordered,

“A fine of up to $50,000 for the first offense and up to $100,000 for subsequent offenses. Disabled people or the Justice Department may seek a court order to enforce the law, and the Justice Department may also seek civil damages on behalf of disabled people who complain of biased treatment".

In the end, these regulations were only set in place to benefit of the lives of the disabled so they can live just like we do. They now have the services and support needed to have a normal life with their disability.

Disabilities Rights Movements

        Prior to early 1970s, several citizens of the United States’ disabled people lived in institutions. However, because of social movements for civil rights and equality supported young activists to speak on behalf of those who were disabled and politicians around the country thought they needed to reduce the costs that are used to run large institutions, many people relocated from institutional to community areas. An article found in ABC Clio goes further in depth about how the Disabilities Rights Movement dramatically changed the lives of those who have a disability.

“Groups like the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), founded after World War II, worked to improve therapy and rehabilitation programs.

While people with disabilities began to be able to move about more easily, they still faced discrimination in regard to education and employment. Public schools could legally refuse to enroll disabled children, special schools for the blind and deaf were segregated from the community, and residential schools were largely institution-like. Influenced by parents and the Supreme Court case of PARC v. Pennsylvania (1972), Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975. The act mandated that all children with disabilities are entitled to a free, public education.

The Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act of 1986 finally allowed recipients of SSI or SSDI to continue to collect benefits while working. The more a recipient earned, the less federal money he or she would collect, and his or her federal health insurance would remain intact.”  

One of the greatest things about the Disabilities Act, is that it gave those would are impaired, either physically or mentally, a voice to be heard. With these new acts in place, it gave the disabled a chance to enjoy life, and not feel so isolated from the rest of the community. With a new education program, financial stability and access to therapy programs, the disabled people can live a normal life just like the rest of us.