The Americans with Disabilities Act: Title I - Employment

At the onset of this project, I aimed to compile the work done by disability activists to pass legislation, demand accessibility, and offer feedback on the outcomes of their labor. I hoped to learn about the disability community and understand their experiences. My older sister, Kathleen, has Down syndrome, so I have lifelong connections to the disability community. However, I recognize I do not have a disability diagnosis myself, and I have many layers of privilege that skew my understanding of the disability community. I am a white woman and the daughter of two lawyers who speak English as their first language. My family has always been aware of my sister's rights and how to access them. I know this is not the case for all people, and I wanted to understand the wide range of experiences of people with disabilities. While working with Dr. Harris to narrow down the topic for my thesis, I came across the documentary "Crip Camp" on Netflix. I watched it immediately before our weekly thesis meeting and had an intense emotional response. This documentary detailed the work of the activists in passing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and, eventually, the Americans with Disabilities Act ("Crip Camp," 2020). On my walk down campus to meet with Dr. Harris, I noticed the ramps, wheelchair access on buses, and cutouts in the sidewalk that I walk past multiple times every day. I realized that those were not there a few years earlier. I understood a glimpse of the work activists contributed to making these infrastructural changes possible. I realized just how impossible daily activities were for individuals with disabilities only a few decades ago. The people who fought for these rights are still alive, and many of these individuals are still working. This documentary helped me understand why my sister has access to the rights she does. I realized that the Americans with Disabilities Act revolutionized the country for people with disabilities, and I wanted to learn more. To