In the past, people with disabilities of all ages were shut away and ignored, cast off by families and society, or ridiculed because of their differences.
Thankfully that is continuing to change due in part to significant changes in governing law. The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA is thirty years old this year. It was a cornerstone piece of legislation that made a tremendous impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Like all cornerstones, it is a place to build.
Delaware Disability Hub is a transition website for youth with disabilities and has a comprehensive Disability Timeline starting in 400 B.C to the current time. The 44-page timeline is viewable online or can be downloaded as a PDF. The language in the timeline is representative of the time.
We have come a long way from the dark ages of disabilities to current times yet, still have a way to go. When fears of difference are overcome and we view each other as differently-abled, humanity will have made great strides in accepting the disability community and all people.
Delaware Disability Hub is a special project of the GACEC. For more information call 302-739-4553