- Zinn Education Project

Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement: Oral Histories and Archives

Digital collection. More than 100 oral histories with leaders and shapers of the disability rights and independent living movement.

A Disability History of the United States

Book — Non-fiction. By Kim E. Nielsen. 2013.
Covering the entirety of US history from pre-1492 to the present, this is the first book to place the experiences of people with disabilities at the center of the American narrative.

Crip Camp

Film. Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht. Netflix. 2020. 107 minutes.
A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.

April 28, 1977: Disability Rights Sit-Ins Force Enactment of Section 504

Between April 5 and April 28, 1977, hundreds of disabled and handicapped activists organized, protested, and occupied government buildings around the country to pressure the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph Califano, to enact Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and publish regulations to guide its enforcement.

March 12, 1990: Disability Rights Activists Make “Capitol Crawl” for the ADA

Dozens of disabled Americans abandoned their mobility aids and climbed and crawled up the U.S. Capitol steps to raise awareness of threats to the proposed ADA. It worked.

June 27, 1880: Helen Keller Born

Helen Keller worked throughout her long life to achieve social justice.

Detail of the cover of one of the many pamphlets produced by the National Joint Action Committee in support of Congressman Ernest Lundeen’s social insurance bill. "What Every Working Woman Wants" was printed by Workers’ Library Publishers, NYC, 1935.

Aug. 14, 1935: The Social Security Act Passed

Due to the results of the strength of organized labor and other mass movements of the 1930s, the Social Security Act was passed.

Dec. 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

An international observance for persons with disabilities, which has been ongoing annually since 1992.

101 Changemakers: Rebels and Radicals Who Changed US History

Book — Non-fiction. By Michele Bollinger and Dao Tran. 2012.
A collection of 101 brief and accessible profiles of rebels, radicals, and fighters for social justice.

The Power of 504

Film. 1977. 18 minutes.
Documentary on the historic civil rights demonstration of people with disabilities in 1977.

The Museum of disABILITY History

Website. Timeline from Museum of disABILITY History that chronicles significant events in disability history from 400 B.C. to 1999.

Disability History Week

Film. From Y.O. Disabled and Proud. 2010. 6 minutes.
Youth at the 2010 Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud Disability History Campaign Summit YO! explain why they believe disability history should be taught in schools.

Beyond the Medal: Representations of Disability in Caldecott Winners

Article. By Chloë Myers-Hughes and Hank Bersani Jr. Winter 2009-10.
The authors of “10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Ableism” look at what Caldecott winners tell young children about disability.

10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Ableism

Article. By Chloë Myers and Hank Bersani Jr. Rethinking Schools, Winter 2008/09.
A guide for analyzing children's books for prejudice by able-bodied and able-minded people toward people with disabilities.

Youth Organizing! Disabled and Proud: Disability History Teaching Resources

Website. Resources for teaching Disability History.

Americans Who Tell the Truth

Website. Portraits by Robert Shetterly and biographies of individuals who have taken a stand for justice.

The Truth About Helen Keller (Lesson) | Zinn Education Project

Who Stole Helen Keller?

By Ruth Shagoury

In these times of vast economic disparities and ecological crisis, children need examples of people throughout history who committed their lives to justice — to bringing more equality and fairness to the world. Helen Keller, whose birthday we celebrate this month — June 27th — could be one of those role models. Instead, textbooks and children’s literature distort her life’s work, and miss key opportunities to inspire young people to make a difference in the world.

The Truth About Helen Keller

Article. By Ruth Shagoury.
A review of children's picture books about the life of Helen Keller reveals the omission of any description of her active role in key social movements of the 20th century.

Teaching Activity by Ruth Shagoury