Heroes of the Disability Rights Movement

“Change never happens at the pace we think it should. It happens over years of people joining together, strategizing, sharing, and pulling all the levers they possibly can. Gradually, excruciatingly slowly, things start to happen, and then suddenly, seemingly out of the blue, something will tip.” – Judith Heumann

For people living with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, access to the world and basic human rights has never been a “given.” In fact, throughout history people living with disabilities have often had their rights withheld and even oppressed by professionals, legislators, and society at large. The accessibility of public spaces in the United States has been hard won by countless activists whose commitment and persistence have paved the way for many to participate in society and exercise basic rights that many citizens take for granted. Please join the Keystone Institute in highlighting a diverse set of key figures, including both luminaries and unsung heroes, of the Disability Rights Movement in the United States.

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About the History, Heroes, and Pioneers in the Field Series

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, we need not live it again.” – Maya Angelou

It is a longstanding value of Keystone Human Services that in order to truly understand someone, we must understand the person’s history; not only the story of one’s life, but also the experiences of one’s people over time. Yet more and more society is being confronted with gaping holes in our knowledge of the histories of certain groups of people which have been forgotten, suppressed, and even erased. In 2022 the Keystone Institute will be offering educational opportunities, open to all employees, designed to introduce our workforce to histories, heroes, and pioneers in the fields of our services. We will explore historical events, life conditions, and major figures who have served as change agents within the fields of disability, and mental difference. In our remembrance of many who have come before us, we will together affirm our collective commitment to advance the human spirit of those we serve.

Date: August 18 2022 @ 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM EDT