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DISABILITY RIGHTS: CIVIL RIGHTS
People with disabilities comprise a large but diverse segment of the population. It is estimated that over 35 million Americans have physical,
mental, sensory, or other disabilities. Approximately half of these disabilities are "developmental," i.e., they occur prior to the individual's twenty-second birthday, often from genetic conditions, and are severe
enough to affect three or more areas of development, including mobility, communication, employment, etc. Most other disabilities are considered "advantitious," i.e., accidental or caused by outside forces.
Prior to this century, only a small percentage of people with disabilities survived for long. Medical treatment for such conditions as stroke, spinal cord
injury, or polio was unavailable. People whose disabilities should not have inherently affected their life span were often so mistreated that they perished. These included the mentally retarded, the blind, and those
with cerebral palsy.
Advancements in medicine and social services have created a climate in which people with disabilities can expect to have
such basic needs as food, shelter, and medical treatment met. Unfortunately, these basics are often all that is available. Civil liberties such as the right to vote, marry, get an education, and gain employment have
historically been denied on the basis of disability.
In recent decades, the disability rights movement has been organized to combat these
infringements of civil rights. Disabled people formed grassroots coalitions to advocate their rights to integration and meaningful equality of opportunity. Congress responded by passing major legislation recognizing
people with disabilities as a protected class under civil rights statutes. In the mid-1970s, critical legislation mandated access to education, public transportation, and public facilities, and prohibited employment
discrimination by federal agencies or employers receiving federal funds.
Still today, people with disabilities must fight to live their lives
independently. It is estimated that more than half of qualified Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and a majority of those who do work are underemployed. Approximately two-thirds live at or below the
official poverty level.
Significant barriers, especially in transportation
and public awareness, prevent disabled people from taking part in society. For example, while no longer prohibited by law from marrying, a person with no access to transportation is effectively excluded from
community and social activities which might lead to the development of long-term relationships. It will only be when public attitudes advance as far as laws have that disabled people will be fully able to take their
rightful place in society.
RECORD YOUR TIME
PROCEED TO QUESTIONS
TEST QUESTIONS
ADULT TEST QUESTIONS FOR TEST #3
1. The estimated number of disabled people in America is
?????????
2. A disability that occurs in youth and affects development is called
?????????
3. A disability caused by accidental or outside forces is called
?????????
4. The number of disabled people who are unemployed is more than
?????????
5. Civil rights laws of the 1970s addressed employment, public facilities and public
?????????
6. Because they didn't receive medical care and food before 1900, many disabled people
?????????
7. The most important and successful advocates for disability rights have been
?????????
8. From the article, name a medical condition that was not treatable prior to 1900:
?????????
9.About how many of the disabled live at or below the official poverty level?
?????????
10. Equal opportunities for disabled people can best be achieved through public
?????????
START TIMER AND CLICK
DISABILITY RIGHTS: CIVIL RIGHTS
People with disabilities comprise a large but diverse segment of the population. It is estimated that over 35 million Americans have physical,
mental, sensory, or other disabilities. Approximately half of these disabilities are "developmental," i.e., they occur prior to the individual's twenty-second birthday, often from genetic conditions, and are severe
enough to affect three or more areas of development, including mobility, communication, employment, etc. Most other disabilities are considered "advantitious," i.e., accidental or caused by outside forces.
Prior to this century, only a small percentage of people with disabilities survived for long. Medical treatment for such conditions as stroke, spinal cord
injury, or polio was unavailable. People whose disabilities should not have inherently affected their life span were often so mistreated that they perished. These included the mentally retarded, the blind, and those
with cerebral palsy.
Advancements in medicine and social services have created a climate in which people with disabilities can expect to have
such basic needs as food, shelter, and medical treatment met. Unfortunately, these basics are often all that is available. Civil liberties such as the right to vote, marry, get an education, and gain employment have
historically been denied on the basis of disability.
In recent decades, the disability rights movement has been organized to combat these
infringements of civil rights. Disabled people formed grassroots coalitions to advocate their rights to integration and meaningful equality of opportunity. Congress responded by passing major legislation recognizing
people with disabilities as a protected class under civil rights statutes. In the mid-1970s, critical legislation mandated access to education, public transportation, and public facilities, and prohibited employment
discrimination by federal agencies or employers receiving federal funds.
Still today, people with disabilities must fight to live their lives
independently. It is estimated that more than half of qualified Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and a majority of those who do work are underemployed. Approximately two-thirds live at or below the
official poverty level.
Significant barriers, especially in transportation
and public awareness, prevent disabled people from taking part in society. For example, while no longer prohibited by law from marrying, a person with no access to transportation is effectively excluded from
community and social activities which might lead to the development of long-term relationships. It will only be when public attitudes advance as far as laws have that disabled people will be fully able to take their
rightful place in society.
RECORD YOUR TIME
PROCEED TO QUESTIONS
TEST QUESTIONS
ADULT TEST QUESTIONS FOR TEST #3
1. The estimated number of disabled people in America is
?????????
2. A disability that occurs in youth and affects development is called
?????????
3. A disability caused by accidental or outside forces is called
?????????
4. The number of disabled people who are unemployed is more than
?????????
5. Civil rights laws of the 1970s addressed employment, public facilities and public
?????????
6. Because they didn't receive medical care and food before 1900, many disabled people
?????????
7. The most important and successful advocates for disability rights have been
?????????
8. From the article, name a medical condition that was not treatable prior to 1900:
?????????
9.About how many of the disabled live at or below the official poverty level?
?????????
10. Equal opportunities for disabled people can best be achieved through public
?????????
CLICK TO SEE ANSWERS
Mark a "+" for correct, a "-" for incorrect or blank
ANSWERS TO TEST #3
1. 35 million
2. developmental
3. advantitious
4. more than half
5. transportation
6. died
7. grassroots, the disabled
8. stroke, spinal cord injury, polio
9. two-thirds
10. awareness, attitudes
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