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1. What were some of the major perspectives held about people with disabilities during this time period, especially those with intellectual disability?

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2. What were the role(s) assigned to this people with disabilities by society (e.g., sign from the gods, buffoon, etc,)?

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3. What aids, supports, or services were provided for individuals with disabilities, if any?

Intellectual disability (ID) is relatively uncommon; studies have estimated that less than 5 percent of the general population has ID (McKenzie and others 2016; Maulik and others 2011). Although the prevalence of ID is rare in the general population, people with ID make up a sizable share (about 14 percent) of the 13 million working-age Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries.¹ ID is especially common among SSI recipients—more than one-fifth of them are eligible for payments because of ID.

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4. What were some of the social, political, and/or economic factors that influenced perceptions/ treatment of individuals with disabilities during this era?

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Historical definition by AAIDD
"Mental retardation is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before age 18." Luckasson et al.

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Inclusion takes off: The reauthorization of IDEA furthers the transition toward inclusive classrooms. All students receiving special education services must now also involved with the progress in the general classroom.

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The first ever Disability Pride Parade was held in Chicago and other communities around the country.

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In 2004, the State of Washington's Division of Developmental Disabilities established a Working Age Adult Policy stating that, "each individual will be supported to pursue his or her own unique path to work, a career, or his or her contribution to/participation in community life. All individuals, regardless of the challenge of their disability, will be afforded an opportunity to pursue competitive employment… Supports to pursue and maintain gainful employment in integrated settings in the community shall be the primary service option for working age adults." (County Services for Working Age Adults, Policy 411).

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Governmental activity from 2008-2016 revitalized existing employment policy and saw new initiatives characterized by collaboration across federal and state agencies. These initiatives promoted and prioritized inclusive lives in the community for individuals with disabilities and clearly defined competitive and integrated employment. Legislation, guidance, recommendations, and regulations were due to the leadership of the Obama Administration, the National Governor's Association, the Business Leadership Network, and state governments, with a strong focus on inclusion in work and community for people with disabilities.

Employment First

In 2004, the State of Washington's Division of Developmental Disabilities established a Working Age Adult Policy stating that, "each individual will be supported to pursue his or her own unique path to work, a career, or his or her contribution to/participation in community life. All individuals, regardless of the challenge of their disability, will be afforded an opportunity to pursue competitive employment... Supports to pursue and maintain gainful employment in integrated settings in the community shall be the primary service option for working age adults." (County Services for Working Age Adults, Policy 411).

Using Washington as an example, advocates and policy makers began to champion "Employment First" for their communities, with competitive employment being the first option offered and funded by state agencies. By 2018, APSE identified 49 states having some type of employment first action such as legislation, policy statement, Executive Order, or memoranda of agreements.

Employment First Report (PDF).

National Governor's Association

On February 26, 2013, Delaware Governor Jack Markel testified on behalf of the National Governor's Association (NGA) before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP Committee) about his initiative, "A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities."

Governor Markel introduced his initiative when he became Chair of the NGA in July 2012 and began a year long focus on the role of state government and business in employing and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities to be gainfully and competitively employed.

He had seen the difference that employment made in the quality of life for people with disabilities. He was aware of and understood the personal and economic impact - the vast majority of people with disabilities want to work, they want to be productive. Yet about $300 billion is spent annually providing supports to people with disabilities who aren't employed.

People First policies were beginning to be adopted. At the same time, strategies were also being developed around employment being the first and preferred outcome for people with disabilities.

Governor Markel referred to the Report as a blueprint to Governors and business, stating:

"Advancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities is the right thing to do. It's the smart thing for government to do. And it makes good business sense."
NGA 2013 Better Bottom Line Report >>

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The Minnesota Governor's Council on Devlopmental Disabilities

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Parallels in Time II: 1950-2005 - Employment

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Parallels In Time, a History of Developmental Disabilities

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The first bill requiring that students in a K-12 public school system be taught the history of the disability rights movement is passed, largely due to the efforts of 20 young people with disability from the state of West Virginia.

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Road-To-Freedom Tour
The Road-to-Freedom bus tour and photographic exhibit chronicled the history of the grassroots "people's movement" that led to passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Photographer and activist Tom Olin drives the bus to 48 states, drawing governors, mayors, and commissioners to events in cities and towns across the nation. Event repeated in 2014 for the ADA Legacy Tour.
Celebration and senate hearing on the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. Advocates for disability rights traveled over 25,000 miles by bus, making over 100 stops in a year.

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West Virginia Requires Disability History to be Taught in Schools
Largely due to the efforts of 20 young people with disabilities (the West Virginia Youth Disability Caucus), West Virginia becomes the first state to require that the history of the disability rights movement be taught in schools grades K-12.

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Rosa's Law Enacted
President Barack Obama signs legislation that replaces the term "mental retardation" with the term "intellectual disability." Law is named for 9-year old Rosa Marcellino, a young advocate with Down syndrome.

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Historical definition by AAIDD
"Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates before age 18." Schalock, et al.

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On March 15, 2011, new Americans with Disabilities Act rules came into effect. These rules expanded accessibility requirements for recreational facilities such as swimming pools, golf courses, exercise clubs, and boating facilities. They also set standards for the use of wheelchairs and other mobility devices like Segways in public spaces, and changed the standards for things such as selling tickets to events and reserving accessible hotel rooms. The new rules also clearly defined “service animal” as “…any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” This portion of the law also states that the services the service animal provides must be “directly related to the handler’s disability” and dogs that provide only emotional support or crime deterrence cannot be defined as service animals.

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Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act

On September 24, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance published a final rule changing the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act intending to reduce barriers to equal employment for people with disabilities. These regulations pertained to entities contracting with the federal government. The ruling:

1. Established a goal of 7% utilization goal for individuals with disabilities

2. Required government contractors to invite applicants to voluntarily disclose their disability prior to receiving an offer of employment or after receiving a job offer. Recognizing that some employees acquire a disability, contractors are required to invite employees to identify their disability on a reoccurring basis.

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Federal Policy

Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act

On September 24, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance published a final rule changing the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act intending to reduce barriers to equal employment for people with disabilities. These regulations pertained to entities contracting with the federal government. The ruling:

1. Established a goal of 7% utilization goal for individuals with disabilities

2. Required government contractors to invite applicants to voluntarily disclose their disability prior to receiving an offer of employment or after receiving a job offer. Recognizing that some employees acquire a disability, contractors are required to invite employees to identify their disability on a reoccurring basis.

Systems Change

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities, now known as the Administration for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, in the Department of Health and Human Services, in 2011, funded 8 state systems change project to increase the number of transition aged youth entering competitive integrated employment and post-secondary education. This program, Partnerships in Employment, resulted in a variety of changes at the state and local level that included state and local policy development, new training and educational programs for educators, service providers, youth and families; and collaboration and coordination between state agencies to minimize duplication of services and the blending of funding sources for competitive employment.

Concurrently, the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor funded a cross-disability and cross systems change initiative known as the Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program (EFSLMP). On-site and virtual technical assistance are provided to improve or reform policy, funding and employment services practices.

Department of Justice Consent Decrees

Rhode Island was cited by the Justice Department for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act because the state was segregating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through their participation in sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. Under the decree, RI agreed to provide supported employment--individual jobs in the general workforce, at minimum wage or higher for at least 20 hours a week. Transition services were to begin at age 14 and include internships, job site visits and mentoring to prepare students for employment. To fulfill the agreement, RI was expected to redirect the funds it expends in segregated services to community-based employment services. The agreement was noteworthy because it was the first in the country to address the rights of people with disabilities to receive state funded services in the community. The agreement between the DOJ and the State occurred in 2014 and gave the state 10 years to transform its system and comply with the consent decree.

Oregon reached an agreement with the Department of Justice in 2015 following the first-class action lawsuit in the country challenging a state-funded and administered employment services system that supporting sheltered workshops thereby violating ADA's integrated mandate. Eight individuals and the United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and Southwest Washington filed on behalf of themselves and others who were in Oregon sheltered workshops or referred to these workshops. The Department of Justice moved to intervene in the case. As a result, 1,114 people in sheltered workshops were slated to receive jobs in the community at competitive wages, with the state having 7 years to comply with the decree.

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The Minnesota Governor's Council on Devlopmental Disabilities

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Parallels in Time II: 1950-2005 - Employment

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Parallels In Time, a History of Developmental Disabilities

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Employees of federal service and concession contractors with disabilities who had been paid less than minimum wage under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act were included in an executive order (signed in 2014) raising the minimum wage for employees of federal service and concession contractors to $10.10 an hour.

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An ethics rule of the American Bar Association now forbids comments or actions that single out someone on the basis of disability, as well as other factors.

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ADAPT Activists Fight to Save Affordable Care Act / Medicaid
On June 22, after numerous attempts to meet with legislators to discuss their concerns about the healthcare bill, a group of disability rights advocates and ADAPT protest in Senator Mitch McConnell's Washington, D.C. office. Some protesters lay on the ground to stage a die-in, while others are dragged from their wheelchairs by police. Dozens of people are arrested — similar scenes unfold nationally. Protestors notably sat in Senator Cory Gardner's Denver office for two days before being forcibly removed.

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Stephanie Woodward was carried out of her wheelchair and away from Sen. Mitch McConnell's office. She and other ADAPT activists were protesting proposed cuts to Medicaid in the Senate's health care bill. Photo by Jacquelyn Martin.

When the Senate leadership announced the results of their secret health care policy deliberations on Thursday, June 22, members of a national disability rights organization ADAPT were there to protest, staging a "die-in" outside of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell's office in response to the health care bill's proposed cuts to Medicaid.

Forty-three protestors were arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police when they refused to vacate the premises. Videos and photographs of the disabled activists being carried away have gone viral on social media, and the protest has received significant mainstream media coverage.

The Senate bill that is the target of the ADAPT protests retains much of the structure of the House bill that passed in May, the American Health Care Act, but makes core changes that will affect both Medicaid and the private insurance marketplace. Like the House bill, the Senate version caps Medicaid funding to either a specific amount per person or as a block grant to states. This is expected to lead to reduced federal Medicaid spending, forcing states to either pick up the slack or make cuts to the scope and services of Medicaid coverage.

"The American Health Care Act caps and significantly cuts Medicaid, which will greatly reduce access to medical care and home and community-based services for elderly and disabled Americans who will either die or be forced into institutions," said an ADAPT organizer and protestor, Bruce Darling, in an ADAPT press release. "Our lives and liberty shouldn't be stolen to give a tax break to the wealthy. That's truly un-American."

In addition to the Medicaid cuts, the Senate bill makes a number of other changes to the American Care Act (Obamacare), which would allow private insurance companies to sell plans offering less coverage. The Congressional Budget Office estimated Monday that average premium prices would be higher under the proposed Senate bill than under the ACA until 2020, then they would likely drop lower, but those lower premiums would also purchase less coverage, increasing out-of-pocket costs for consumers. The CBO also estimated that 22 million Americans would lose insurance coverage as a result of the new legislation.

Along with disability rights organizations, many major medical associations have come out in opposition to the Senate bill. The American Association of Medical Colleges wrote that: "We are extremely disappointed by the Senate bill released today. Despite promises to the contrary, it will leave millions of people without health coverage, and others with only bare-bones plans that will be insufficient to properly address their needs."

The Senate leadership is trying to get a vote on the health care bill this week, before Congress is adjourned for the July 4 th recess. They are already making changes to the bill as the leadership tries to gather enough votes for it to pass.

ADAPT looks to stay active in protesting the bill, and they have already supported additional protests aimed at individual senators.

For those interested in where their senators stand on the health care bill, the New York Times has a continually updating chart detailing the present position of each Senator in respect to the legislation.

Visit United Spinal's Trumpcare Needs to be Stopped action page for more information, including how you can advocate for better health care.

This Washington Post video shows demonstrators being forcibly removed from Sen. McConnell's office:

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ADAPT Activists Arrested at Senate Health Care Protest

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ADAPT activists were arrested protesting the Senate's health care bill on the day it was unveiled.

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Historical definition by AAIDD
"Intellectual disability is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. This disability originates during the developmental period, which is defined operationally as before the individual attains age 22." Schalock et al.