In the 1970s, disability rights activists lobbied Congress and marched on Washington to include civil rights language for people with disabilities into the 1972 Rehabilitation Act. In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act was passed, and for the first time in history, civil rights of people with disabilities were protected by law. President Richard Nixon signed it into law on September 26, 1973.
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The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 replaced preexisting laws collectively referred to as the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. The Rehab Act was the first civil rights legislation protecting disabled people from discrimination. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance or conducted by federal agencies, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors.
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The Act also paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act and other advancements in disability rights.
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The Rehab Act also created the Independent Living Services program and the Centers for Independent Living program.
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While there is more progress to be made, the legislation ushered in a new age of disability rights and stands as a foundational cornerstone that we are still actively building upon.
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Rehabilitation Act of 1973: https://assets.section508.gov/…/rehabilitation-act-of…
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Sections of this law are often referred to by their Title or Section number, e.g., Section 504 or Title I.
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