In the name of charity and rehabilitation, Americans with disabilities have been effectively segregated from society and deprived of their constitutional rights for much of United States history. Until the late 20th century, citizens with disabilities were often treated as charity cases, tragedies, or monster freaks. Unable to support themselves in the United States' manufacturing and agriculture-based economy, people with disabilities often had to panhandle and live on the streets. Others had homes, but not of their own choosing. They were forcibly interned in hospitals reserved for disabled people where their lives were governed by doctors and hospital staff. Some states have passed laws banning people with disabilities from marrying or having children, which has sometimes resulted in forced sterilization. Public perception of people with disabilities changed after the two world wars. Thousands of young people returning from the front deaf, blind or in wheelchairs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay During the 1920s and 1930s, Congress passed a series of laws that created provisions to reintegrate war veterans into the workforce. But Americans with disabilities lacked the group identity and cohesion needed to effect widespread change – until the 1960s. Inspired by the success of the African-American civil rights movement, people with disabilities began to campaign for legal protection against discrimination. Slowly, through lobbying, protests, and sheer perseverance, Americans with disabilities challenged the power structures that preserved inequality. In 1962, Ed Roberts, a quadriplegic paralyzed from the neck down, became the first severely disabled student admitted to the University of California at Berkeley. Roberts' admission was a turning point in the fight for civil rights. Other disabled students followed suit and petitioned to be accepted into major universities. Eventually, they banded together and got federal funding for a program that helped disabled students live independently, outside of a hospital. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, several pieces of legislation created new regulations for schools, public and commercial buildings, and transportation. These regulations required public service institutions to make “reasonable accommodations” allowing equal access to people with disabilities. Disabled Americans were guaranteed the right to attend desegregated schools and the freedom to enjoy simple pleasures like taking a train downtown or shopping at a supermarket. But discrimination against disabled people – called “ableism” – was still rampant. Americans with disabilities were passed over for jobs, prohibited from living in certain neighborhoods and apartment complexes, and denied service or charged a premium for basic accommodations such as airline flights or restaurant meals. Building on their early successes, people with disabilities continued to campaign for reform. Disabled Americans numbered in the tens of millions, and activists realized they represented a powerful voting bloc. So did Congress. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In a nearly unanimous and bipartisan decision, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA guaranteed Americans with disabilities equal access to jobs, government, commercial spaces such as office buildings and restaurants, transport and telecommunications..