ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the ways that people with disabilities have been present in public life through discussion of contemporary policy and popular culture throughout time. It demonstrates the historical lineage of disability rights, including its 'heroes' who are frequent reference points to tell its legacy. Inclusion and inclusive education, continues, to be a most pressing concern in education for students labeled disabled. The proliferation of disability arts, recognition of the Disability Rights Movement, and attention to ongoing activism can contribute to reshaping a view of disability that centers on a value for diversity, appreciation of its history, and a source of positive identity and pride. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark specifying the rights of people with disabilities to an accessible and non-discriminatory society. More comprehensive than the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, the ADA extended rights provisions and non-discrimination to the private sector.
