Social Justice Series Highlights the Disability Rights Movement

The Disability Rights Movement in the United States successfully pushed for landmark victories in the second half of the 20th century. But many challenges remain, from the courts to the streets of Boston. 

That story was recently highlighted for the Emmanuel community through a “Social Justice Series” panel discussion in November. 

The panel included Archives Librarian John Healey, who gave a brief history of disability policy in the United States. Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Ivy Krull and Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Adam Silver also spoke to the political and sociological aspects of the movement. 

Equal rights and inclusion were central to the discussion. In the early 20th century, people with visible and invisible disabilities were often segregated into special hospitals and schools.  

“The disabled or those considered to be ill-mannered or ill-tempered or in other ways as hindering the efficiency of instruction of the public schools…would often be placed in these institutions, while simultaneously funding for these institutions would decrease, which led to overcrowding,” said Healey.  

That system was increasingly challenged in the courts throughout the 60s. A growing protest movement also took off after passage of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in programs that receive federal funding. But implementation of the new law was slow in coming, and that became a central demand for disability advocates.

 Those stories were outlined in clips from the PBS Documentary Change Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act  and the Netflix Documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Emmanuel students also shared reflections with the panel during a Q&A segment. 

The panel discussion was convened, in part, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975; it guarantees free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities. It is also the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed in 1990 and prohibits many forms of discrimination.

Even so, the panelists touched on how disability rights are a contemporary concern. Healey noted that there are active ADA court cases that focus on what constitutes “disability” or reasonable accommodations. Dr. Krull noted that funding priorities also remain a challenge with meeting the goals of the ADA, citing the streets of Boston as an example. 

“I think it’s really important to try to live with understanding that we built a set of regulations that is loosely enforced…that is the floor for accessibility,” said Dr. Krull. “As other elements of life become more expensive, we have less to spend on things like fixing the streets. In Boston, where it can be very hard to wheel your wheelchair, we will continue to see barriers go up, one little brick at a time.” 

The Social Justice Series was started by Professor of Sociology Dr. Cathy Bueker and Associate Librarian for Reference Diane Zydlewski seven years ago. Dr. Bueker was teaching a course about immigration during the Syrian refugee crisis and collaborated with Zydlewski to launch a film series to supplement the discussion. 

“From there…we tried to do different themes each semester that touched on issues we thought were important to highlight at Emmanuel, from unsung heroes to various social movements,” said Dr. Bueker. 

Social justice has been a core value of Emmanuel College since its founding in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdN). Emmanuel was the first women’s Catholic college in New England, founded to provide educational opportunities for those who might otherwise go without. The power of education to help individuals lead lives of freedom and dignity is central to the SNDnD philosophy, along with promoting social justice, building community, and a deeply rooted trust in the goodness of God. 

The Social Justice series will return in January, with a screening of the documentary Deaf President Now.