Enabling Acts: The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest U.S. Minority Its Rights

A behind-the-scenes account of the passing of the ADA—the moment when millions of Americans won their civil rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the widest-ranging and most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in the United States, and it has become the model for disability-based laws around the world. Yet the surprising story behind how the bill came to be is little known. In this riveting account, acclaimed disability scholar Lennard J. Davis delivers the first on-the-ground narrative of how a band of leftist Berkeley hippies managed to make an alliance with upper-crust, conservative Republicans to bring about a truly bipartisan bill. Based on extensive interviews with all the major players involved including legislators and activists, Davis recreates the dramatic tension of a story that is anything but a dry account of bills and speeches. Rather, it’s filled with one indefatigable character after another, culminating in explosive moments when the hidden army of the disability community stages scenes like the iconic “Capitol Crawl” or an event when students stormed Gallaudet University demanding a “Deaf President Now!” From inside the offices of newly formed disability groups to secret breakfast meetings surreptitiously held outside the White House grounds, here we meet countless unsung characters, including political heavyweights and disability advocates on the front lines. “You want to fight?” an angered Ted Kennedy would shout in an upstairs room at the Capitol while negotiating the final details of the ADA. Congressman Tony Coelho, whose parents once thought him to be possessed by the devil because of his epilepsy, later became the bill’s primary sponsor. There’s Justin Dart, adorned in disability power buttons and his signature cowboy hat, who took to the road canvassing 50 states, and people like Patrisha Wright, also known as “The General,” Arlene Myerson or “the brains,” “architect” Bob Funk, and visionary Mary Lou Breslin, who left the hippie highlands of the West to pursue equal rights in the marble halls of DC. The First Significant Book On The History And Impact Of The Ada--the Eyes On The Prize Moment For Disability Rights The Americans With Disabilities Act (ada) Is The Widest-ranging Piece Of Civil Rights Legislation Ever Passed In The History Of The United States, And It Has Become The Model For Most Civil Rights Laws Around The World. The Untold Story Behind The Act Is Anything But A Dry Account Of Bills And Speeches, However. Rather, It's A Fascinating Story Of How A Group Of Leftist Berkeley Hippies Managed To Make An Alliance With Upper-crust, Conservative Republicans To Bring About A Truly Bipartisan Bill. In This Riveting Account, Acclaimed Disability Scholar Lennard J. Davis Tells The Behind-the-scenes And On-the-ground Story Of A Too-often Ignored Or Forgotten Civil Rights Fight, While Illustrating The Successes And Shortcomings Of The Ada In Areas Ranging From Employment, Education, And Transportation To Shifting Social Attitudes. Published For The Twenty-fifth Anniversary Of The Ada, This Book Promises To Powerfully Ignite Readers In A Discussion Of Disability Rights In America-- This Book Is The First Major Book To Focus Exclusively On The History And Impact Of The Ada Which Was The Widest Ranging Piece Of Civil Rights Legislation In The History Of The United States And Has Become The Model For Most Civil Rights Laws Around The World. Yet The History Isn't A Dry Account Of Bills And Speeches. Rather It Tells The Fascinating Story Of How A Group Of Leftist Berkeley Hippies Managed To Make An Alliance With Upper-crust, Conservative Republicans To Bring About A Truly Bi-partisan Bill. It Covers How Major Politicians Fought In Public While Staffers Hammered Out The Details Amidst Public Demonstrations By Disability Activists Providing Momentum For All. The Book Provides Behind The Scenes Accounts And Never-before Published Intrigues That Led To A Successful Outcome. In Addition, The Book Will Assess The Impact And Legacy Of The Ada Through The Stories Of Individuals Who Have Been Affected By The Legislation-- Forty-six Words That Changed History -- Dc Outsiders Turn Washington Insiders -- The Texas Connection -- Let Right Be Done -- Banging The Drum Loudly -- Flat Earth, Deaf World -- A New Band Of Reformers -- A New Day, A New Ada -- White House Battles Senate -- Secret Meetings And Bagel Breakfasts -- This Means War! -- Building The Accessible Ramp To The House Of Representatives -- The Capitol Crawl -- On The White House Lawn -- Enabling The Ada. Lennard Davis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The first significant book on the history and impact of the ADA?the "eyes on the prize" moment for disability rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the widest-ranging and most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in the United States, and it has become the model for disability-based laws around the world. Yet the surprising story behind how the bill came to be is little known. In this riveting account, acclaimed disability scholar Lennard J. Davis delivers the first behind-the-scenes and on-the-ground narrative of how a band of leftist Berkeley hippies managed to make an alliance with upper-crust, conservative Republicans to bring about a truly bipartisan bill. Based on extensive interviews with all the major players involved including legislators and activists, Davis recreates the dramatic tension of a story that is anything but a dry account of bills and speeches. Rather, it's filled with one indefatigable character after another, culminating in explosive moments when the hidden army of the disability community stages scenes like the iconic "Capitol Crawl" or an event some describe as "deaf Selma," when students stormed Gallaudet University demanding a "Deaf President Now!" From inside the offices of newly formed disability groups to secret breakfast meetings surreptitiously held outside the White House grounds, here we meet countless unsung characters, including political heavyweights and disability advocates on the front lines. "You want to fight?" an angered Ted Kennedy would shout in an upstairs room at the Capitol while negotiating the final details of the ADA. Congressman Tony Coelho, whose parents once thought him to be possessed by the devil because of his epilepsy, later became the bill's primary sponsor. There's Justin Dart, adorned in disability power buttons and his signature cowboy hat, who took to the road canvassing fifty states, and people like Patrisha Wright, also known as "The General," Arlene Myerson or "the brains," "architect" Bob Funk, and visionary Mary Lou Breslin, who left the hippie highlands of the West to pursue equal rights in the marble halls of DC. Published for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ADA, Enabling Acts promises to ignite readers in a discussion of disability rights by documenting this "eyes on the prize" moment for tens of millions of American citizens The first major behind-the-scenes account of the history, passage, and impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—the landmark moment for disability rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the widest-ranging and most comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in the United States, and it has become the model for disability-based laws around the world. Yet the surprising story behind how the bill came to be is little known. In this riveting account, acclaimed disability scholar Lennard J. Davis delivers the first on-the-ground narrative of how a band of leftist Berkeley hippies managed to make an alliance with upper-crust, conservative Republicans to bring about a truly bipartisan bill. Based on extensive interviews with all the major players involved including legislators and activists, Davis recreates the dramatic tension of a story that is anything but a dry account of bills and speeches. Rather, it's filled with one indefatigable character after another, culminating in explosive moments when the hidden army of the disability community stages scenes like the iconic “Capitol Crawl” or an event when students stormed Gallaudet University demanding a “Deaf President Now!” From inside the offices of newly formed disability groups to secret breakfast meetings surreptitiously held outside the White House grounds, here we meet countless unsung characters, including political heavyweights and disability advocates on the front lines. “You want to fight?” an angered Ted Kennedy would shout in an upstairs room at the Capitol while negotiating the final details of the ADA. Congressman Tony Coelho, whose parents once thought him to be possessed by the devil because of his epilepsy, later became the bill's primary sponsor. There's Justin Dart, adorned in disability power buttons and his signature cowboy hat, who took to the road canvassing 50 states, and people like Patrisha Wright, also known as “The General,” Arlene Myerson or “the brains,” “architect” Bob Funk, and visionary Mary Lou Breslin, who left the hippie highlands of the West to pursue equal rights in the marble halls of DC. "The first significant book on the history and impact of the ADA ... the "eyes on the prize" moment for disability rights The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the widest-ranging piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in the history of the United States, and it has become the model for most civil rights laws around the world. The untold story behind the act is anything but a dry account of bills and speeches, however. Rather, it's a fascinating story of how a group of leftist Berkeley hippies managed to make an alliance with upper-crust, conservative Republicans to bring about a truly bipartisan bill. In this riveting account, acclaimed disability scholar Lennard J. Davis tells the behind-the-scenes and on-the-ground story of a too-often ignored or forgotten civil rights fight, while illustrating the successes and shortcomings of the ADA in areas ranging from employment, education, and transportation to shifting social attitudes. Published for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ADA, this book promises to powerfully ignite readers in a discussion of disability rights in America" .. July 28, 1989 Forty-six words that changed history DC outsiders turn Washington insiders The Texas connection Let right be done Banging the drum loudly Flat Earth, deaf world A new band of reformers A new day, a new ADA White House battles Senate Secret meetings and bagel breakfasts "This means war!" Building the accessible ramp to the House of Representatives The Capitol crawl On the White House lawn Enabling the ADA. Chronicles the history of the Americans with Disabilities Act, using interviews with legislators and activists to describe how the bipartisan bill became the most comprehensive civil rights legislation passed in the United States