Disability Rights History

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black and white photograph of people sitting in a room
Institutionalized children lived in bleak conditions
"Minnesota has a long history of placing children in institutions. From January 1867 through October 1881 about 120 children were committed to Minnesota’s first Hospital for the Insane at St. Peter."
the cover of a book with pictures of people in different countries, including an infant
New book chronicles the impact of disability on U.S. history
an old black and white photo of a man in a suit with a moustache
U.S. Dept of Labor marks centennial this year
March 4, 1913, marked a milestone event in the history of the American workforce. On that day 100 years ago, President William Howard Taft—on his last day in office—reluctantly signed legislation creating the U.S. Department of Labor and giving workers a direct seat in the President’s Cabinet for the first time.
A 1974 legal case that was a turning point in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in the United States was a Minnesota History Day project. Lillian Lampros, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Capitol Hill Magnet School in St. Paul, created a webpage chronicling the history of Halderman v. Pennhurst and the closing of that state hospital as her project. Minnesota History, Education For All, Turning Point, Capitol Hill, Treat People, Executive Director, St Paul
St. Paul student’s website brings key legal case to life
A 1974 legal case that was a turning point in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in the United States was a Minnesota History Day project. Lillian Lampros, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Capitol Hill Magnet School in St. Paul, created a webpage chronicling the history of Halderman v. Pennhurst and the closing of that state hospital as her project.
a man with long hair and moustaches playing drums
Ron Kovic-In 1974, Kovic led a group of disabled Vietnam War veterans in wheelchairs on a 17-day hunger strike inside the Los Angeles office of Senator Alan Cranston. The veterans protested the "poor treatment in America's Veterans Hospitals" and demanded better treatment for returning veterans, a full investigation of all Veterans Affairs (V.A.) facilities, and a face-to-face meeting with head of the V.A. Donald E. Johnson.
an old brick building with snow on the ground and trees around it, in front of a blue sign
AMS Vans
Museum of disABILITY history, Buffalo, NY
"A committee chairperson speaking at the State Conference of Charities and Corrections in 1894 described “the children nobody wants” as “the defective, the unattractive, the unlovely.” ... No “ugly law” would likely be passed today, although city ordinances outlawing solicitation, lurking, or disorderly conduct could still be used against persons with visible disabilities." - Thank goodness! Ap Euro, Medical Tech, Visit Alaska, Food And Culture, Health Care Services, Human Figures, Public Places
‘Ugly laws’ were a very ugly way to discriminate
"A committee chairperson speaking at the State Conference of Charities and Corrections in 1894 described “the children nobody wants” as “the defective, the unattractive, the unlovely.” ... No “ugly law” would likely be passed today, although city ordinances outlawing solicitation, lurking, or disorderly conduct could still be used against persons with visible disabilities." - Thank goodness!
an old photo of a woman wearing a priest's outfit and smiling for the camera
Pioneering pastor struggled to find transportation
In June 1972, Barbara Andrews was one of a group of persons with disabilities who urged the Bill of Rights Committee of the MN Constitutional Study Commission to include a provision in the state constitution prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. Andrews had cerebral palsy and could not drive, and encountered some of the transportation problems in the Twin Cities in the 1960s and early 1970s while a campus pastor at the University of MN and attending Luther Seminary in St. Paul.
two people standing next to each other in front of some trees and grass with one person wearing a red hat
Babies benefitted greatly from one doctor’s research
Dr. Robert Guthrie was an advocate as well as a scientist.
an old black and white photo of a man with glasses looking off to the side
Minnesotan invented life-saving catheter
"A medical device which has made life easier for countless people with disabilities and illness has ties to Minnesota. The Foley catheter was invented by St. Cloud native Frederic Foley."
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History
Developmental Disabilities
Cemetary Statue
Foley Catheter
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Michael Dowling, Minnesota politician. From a Sept. 2002 article in the Star Tribune: And Michael Dowling went from school principal, bank president and mayor of Olivia to speaker of the Minnesota House, a national Republican leader and organizer of the Philippines' educational system -- all despite having lost both legs, his left arm and the fingers of his right hand in an 1880 snowstorm when he was 14.
a black and white photo of trees in the grass
Forgotten lives can now be found
The markers with names provided by Remembering With Dignityand the memorial pages created by Aasen andCarlson help to prevent these state hospital patients from becoming, as Carlson puts it, a forgotten group of people. They remind us that the persons buried in state hospital cemeteries were not inmates orcases or even residents or consumers but men and women whose lives shouldbe remembered and who deserved anddeserve our respect.
an old black and white photo of children in class
Teaching contract in June 1881 was very different
"In that era, Knight and other staff members lived in the large building that housed the school. Smith could not continue teaching the following year because of illness. With increased enrollment, the school employed a lead teacher, Miss M. E. Powers, at a salary of $500 per year, and Hattie Wilson, at a salary of $200 per year. The schedule and duties remained the same."
"Solomonson’s advocacy group incorporated as the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (MHAC) in 1977, with, as she noted, “no office, no staff and no funding”. Yet, in a short five years, MHAC and its allies saw community mental health funding increase dramatically." Health Changes, Mental Health Advocacy, Crisis Intervention, Mental Health Services, Mental Health Care, Nine Months, Health Services, Health Care
Kitchen table coalition brought mental health changes
"Solomonson’s advocacy group incorporated as the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (MHAC) in 1977, with, as she noted, “no office, no staff and no funding”. Yet, in a short five years, MHAC and its allies saw community mental health funding increase dramatically."
two men in wheelchairs are waiting at the cash register
Photographer Spotlight: Bill Ray's Classic Celebrity Portraits - LIFE
Unpublished. With VA patient Tom DeArmand, Marlon Brando goes for coffee and doughnuts at a VA hospital cafeteria, 1949. The specially built counter space included a low rail against which patients could set the footrests of their wheelchairs.