throughout history anyone with a disability was considered helpless and destitute beings disabilities have always been viewed as something shameful ugly defective and in need of a cure citizens with a disability were forced to be locked away in institutions and asylums where the treatment there was horrifically cruel there patients with disabilities ranging from mental disorders to disfigurements were shut away and dehumanized patients were often left neglected locked up and tied to furniture for hours on end citizens were denied equal opportunity and equal treatment just that's because they were different it wasn't until the 1940s and 50s when injured veterans returned home from war that a new light was shed on disabilities this would prove to be a crucial turning point in history when World War II veterans returned home with newly acquired disabilities A New Perspective on disabilities began to take form the returning men pressured the government to to provide them with new Rehabilitation programs and return for their great sacrifices citizens had their eyes open to disabilities and began to see past person's wheelchair even though the disabled Community made up a large portion of the nation disabled persons were still faced with physical and social barriers a majority of the disabled population was forced into institutions care homes or nursing homes others were dependent on family members or friends to take care of them and make decisions for them people with disabilities had little to no access to the outside world the obstacles in life made it increasingly difficult for those the disability to have access to anything there were no ramps curb Cuts or even automatic doors as a result those with the disability did not have access to public transportation shops restaurants restrooms or anywhere the disabled Community was discriminated against daily and was denied Public Services because of the wheelchair crutches or their appearance it was common for someone to refuse services to a person with a disability because their equipment or their appearance might offend or frighten customers even in society there was a cruel and injust treatment to people with a disability the Discrimination people with the disability faced is overwhelming in the 1960s social movements began to take place Advocates seized the opportunity and for the first time began demanding equal treatment joining in on the many other civil rights protests they began breaking down the physical and social barriers parents began demanding that their children be released from the hands of Institutions and asylums and Care Homes and for the ones not to find institutions they demanded equal access to public services disability rights activists took a stand and challenged viewpoints on disabilities disability activists and Advocates rallied protests stage sens and even obstructed buses and buildings that didn't provide equal access to show that they too deserve civil rights in 1972 President Nixon Beed a law that would Grant equal access to those with a disability the president's action caused uproar in the disabled Community Fierce protest placed Nationwide in one particular protest in New York City 80 people stayed to sit down on Madison Avenue causing traffic to stop after the Persistence of the disability rights activists Congress overrode President Nixon's veto and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed this act was a pivotal Point as this was the first time in history that the civil rights of people with a disability were protected by law now equal access for all is beginning to take place the first curb cut was set up in Berkeley California the first of ramps and such were making their way all around soon after parents wanted their children to have the same opportunities of children without a disability this led to the creation of the education for all handicapp children act 1975 this act ensured that every child has a right to an education and provided school children with equal access to an education the Act was later renamed the individuals with disabilities Education Act this further stressed the idea of the education for all handic C children act but now included the parents rights to be involved with their children's education this act started the individualized education plan which is designed of parents and teachers to meet the child's educational needs even with a new Rehabilitation and Education Act the civil rights of those with the disability were still not fully addressed the disabled Community rallied for the enactment of the American with Disabilities Act which would fully protect their rights as Citizens in the spring of 1990 members of American disabled for accessible public transit gathered at the capital building in Washington DC for a rally known as the capital crawl this rally was organized with Congress to pass the Americans of Disabilities Act there protesters flocked to the building and lifted themselves out of their Wheelchairs and began crawling up the steps of the Capitol building using their hands elbows backs or whatever they could inch by inch they moved their way up towards the building that was once and accessible to them a 9-year-old girl named Jennifer kelan was the youngest to climb up the steps of the capital building it said that the sight of her crawling up the steps is what led to the final decision of signing the Americans with Disabilities Act the Ada was finally signed into law on July 26th 1990 this act prohibited discrimination against any disability and ensured equal access in employment Public Services telecommunications and many more this act ultimately granted full rights to people with a disability the Persistence of the disability rights activists paid off their impact and their determination shape the way our society Embraces differences in how we perceive our freedom