Change Leaders in the Disability Community

working to ensure access and equality for every human.

We all have the power to create change and make the world a better place.

Here’s to the Change Leaders- folks out there blazing a trail for the rest of us. They’re the Einsteins, the Ed Roberts, the Justin Darts, the Martin Luther Kings, and Helen Kellers of our generation. You’ve probably heard of most of them, and if you haven’t, you will.

Each of us has the power to create real change and make the world a better place, we just have to roll up our sleeves and do it. Our hope is that getting a glimpse into the lives of people out there making a difference will inspire you to do the same.

If you’re motivated by something these Change Leaders in the disability community have done – go do something. Anything. A big act or a small act, but do something. Let us know what you’re up to and we’ll shout from the rooftops.

Judith Snow

Thank You, Ed Roberts

Intersection of Law, Education and Civil Rights

Senator Harkin Delivers Speech in ASL Upon ADA Passage in 1990

Krip-Hop Nation: Music, Advocacy and Education

Worth Repeating: Ed Roberts’ 504 Sit-In Victory Rally Speech

I Got 99 Problems..Palsy Is Just One- Maysoon Zayid on Ted

Doll Diversity Isn’t Just Child’s Play – Dolls with Disabilities

Worth A Second Look: Haben Girma’s 2010 Speech on 35th Anniversary of IDEA

The Importance of Supports

Meet the Members of the 2013 National Council on Disability

ASAN President Ari Ne’eman on the DOE’s New Stance on Bullying Prevention

Senator Harkin Delivers Speech in ASL Upon ADA Passage in 1990

Upon passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 13th, 1990, Senator Tom Harkin delivered a speech on the Senate floor in American Sign Language. Harkin, whose brother Frank was deaf, was the lead Senate author of the ADA, which was enacted later that year. His speech is the first in American Sign Language to be delivered from the Senate floor.

Intersection of Law, Education and Civil Rights

As a deaf-blind student with very limited sight and hearing, Haben Girma '13 learned that you must be a self-advocate and come up with creative solutions to the problems you face. If that fails, she says, then the law can be a strong ally.

Worth A Second Look: Haben Girma’s 2010 Speech on 35th Anniversary of IDEA

"One of the treasures of IDEA is that it provides children with disabilities the luxury of just being students. Unfortunately there are still many school districts where students with disabilities are denied their right to an education." Haben Girma

Krip-Hop Nation: Music, Advocacy and Education

"Where were the other people who looked like me as a Black disabled young man? With this continuous question of race and disability along with my love of poetry and music, I started to question the arena of music and performance around the representation of musicians with disabilities, especially disabled musicians of color." - Leroy F. Moore, Jr.

Because I Stood With Henry

Because I stood with Henry I am happier today and you should too. Henry not only got his rights, he proved that presumption of competence should be the default for every student.

Colin Giving Voice

Colin from Newcastle, "Giving Voice" for RCSLT National Campaign

Sensory Tool Kit or Purse ?

Notebooks, silly putty, colored pencils, a favorite book..

I did many of

Acceptance

Autistic People Should

This is part of "Autistic People Should" flash blog.

This Is Autism by Henry Frost

Best place for all autistic people, all disabled not disabled people, all families to speak together. Speak together for acceptance, inclusion, communication, and rights for all people. I am thinking when you look closely, this is what autism is.

LOOPS

You are not wrong.

Know you are not a burden or trouble for being. You are a person who has every right to be. A family that is saying love but saying you are so hard so wrong for not being as they wanted. The family is wrong. Not You. A school segregating is wrong. Not You.There are many if the disability community that are here for you.