Disability rights movement

{ "text": "The disability rights movement is a global social movement. It seeks to secure equal opportunities for all disabled people. This movement includes many organizations of disability activists and advocates. They work together to achieve several common goals. These goals include accessibility in architecture and transportation. They also fight for safety in the physical environment. Advocates demand equal opportunities in employment, education, and housing. They also push for the right to live independently. A major part of the movement is fighting discrimination and abuse. This includes fighting against neglect and other rights violations.\n\nActivists work to break three main types of barriers. These are institutional, physical, and societal barriers. Physical barriers include buildings that only have stairs for entry. They also include walkways that are not well-maintained. Lack of connection to public transit is another physical barrier. A lack of visual or hearing communication tools can also create barriers. These issues can segregate people from participating in society. Institutional barriers include being forced to live in large facilities. Societal barriers involve the way people think and act. These barriers prevent people from living like other citizens.\n\nIn the United States, the history of these rights has changed significantly. Before the movement grew, disability was often seen as a personal issue. President Franklin D. Roosevelt used a wheelchair during his time in office. However, he refused to be publicized using it. This helped spread the idea that disability meant weakness. In the 1950s, groups like the March of Dimes began to focus on volunteerism. During the 1960s, disability advocates joined the civil rights and women's rights movements. This led to a cross-disability focus. People with physical, mental, visual, and hearing disabilities began fighting together.\n\nOne major milestone occurred in 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. This law legally prohibits discrimination based on disability. It also mandates disability access in all public areas and buildings. The ADA is important because it defined \"reasonable accommodation.\" This term helps protect both employees and employers. Another important development was the ANSI-Barrier Free Standard. This standard was created through 40 years of research. It involved physical therapists and bio-mechanical engineers. It provided the first indisputable proof that physical barriers exist. This standard is now emulated all over the world.\n\nDifferent groups within the movement focus on specific needs. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities focus on self-advocacy. They want to move out of institutions and into the community. They also fight for integrated workplaces that pay at least a minimum wage. In the U.S., some sheltered workshops still pay below minimum wage. Many advocates use the slogan \"People First\" to fight dehumanization. The autism rights movement focuses on the concept of neurodiversity. This view sees the autism spectrum as a natural variation in the human brain. They argue that autism is a natural expression of the human genome.\n\nAdvocates for mental health disabilities focus on self-determination. This is the ability of an individual to live independently. They want the right to use paid assistant care instead of being institutionalized. The movement also works to prevent serious harm. This includes protecting people from the inappropriate use of force by staff. It also includes protection from threats, harassment, or retaliation. Advocates fight for the right to informed consent for medical treatment. They also work to ensure the confidentiality of medical records. These efforts help ensure the physical and psychological well-being of all people.\n\nThis movement has created significant changes in many countries. In Australia, protests in 1978 helped remove taxes on disability payments. In 2013, Australia introduced the National Disability Insurance Scheme to fund supports. Canada passed the Accessible Canada Act in 2019 to affect all federal agencies. India passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016. This law recognizes 21 different disabilities. In the United Kingdom, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 made discrimination unlawful. These laws cover employment, education, transport, and the provision of services.

\n\nDisability rights are deeply connected to broader human rights systems. The United Nations has established the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This global treaty discusses the rights of many, including indigenous people. The movement shows how legal, social, and physical systems must work together. When one system fails, such as a building without a ramp, a person's rights are limited. By changing laws and physical environments, the movement seeks to include everyone. This creates a world where all citizens can participate fully in society.", "media": ["File:Scottish Parliament. Protest March 30,