Disability advocates across the country are mobilizing to help create understanding and celebrate the history of individuals with disabilities! Since West Virginia passed the first…
The Museum of disABILITY History
1945
Truman passes Public Law 176: National Employ the Handicapped Week. National "Employ the Handicapped Week" was created and signed by President Harry Truman as Public Law 176. The week was established to create more awareness of the possibilities available to employ the physically handicapped. In 1962, "Employ the Handicapped Week" expanded to include all disabilities and was later changed from just one week to a full month in 1988.
1946
Cerebral Palsy Society of New York City is formed by parents. It is the first chapter of United Cerebral Palsy Association.
National Mental Health Foundation established by attendants of mental institutions to show the bad treatment of residents.
1948
National Paraplegic Foundation established to advocate for disability rights.
We Are Not Alone established as a mental patients' self-help group at Rockland State Hospital in NY City.
1950
The National Association for Retarded Citizens was established in 1950. The organization has influenced legislation and public perception regarding retarded individuals.
1952
Dr. Jonas Salk developed a polio vaccine that went through massive testing in the United States and Canada in 1954. The United States government sanctioned the vaccine in 1955 but it eventually caused 10 deaths and 260 cases of polio.
1953
Medical experiments are conducted on 100 boys at the Fernald School in Waverly, Massachusetts. The boys were subjected to radioactive elements in their food to determine the effects.
1954
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: Separate but equal schools is considered unconstitutional. Lead to the Civil Rights movement giving momentum to disability rights movement.
The National Association for Retarded Children along with President Dwight Eisenhower declared the first "National Retarded Children's Week" in 1954. This week was established to create awareness among the general public about the need for funding and legislation for the education of mentally retarded children. Funds and legislation were desperately needed to build schools for disabled children.
1958
Dissolved and becomes National Association of Physically Handicapped.
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