Civil Rights and Disabilities

Although dated, an article by Harlan Hahn of USC addresses "crucial areas of agreement and disagreement about the "minority group model" (views prejudice and discrimination as the major issues confronting citizens with disabilities) both within and between disabled and non-disabled segments of the population, and to develop a case for the benefits that can be derived from policies founded on a socio-political understanding of disability." It provides an interesting discussion, especially that of the environment in which disabled persons have to live. Hahn asserts that the problems for disabled persons is composed not only of individual characteristics (health centered, personal limitations due to a disability), but also to external, environmental factors that stem directly from the perception of society and the regulations addressing the needs required by the disabled. What he describes as a "disabling environment" is created when the needs of those with disabilities are acknowledged, but not met. 

Nonetheless, many of the problems mention in the article, mostly those regarding architectural/building environments and the lack of aims to promote inclusivity, have made immense progress since the time it was written. The ADA (1990) and IDEA (2004) have made groundbreaking progress in establishing the foundation for equality for members of the American disabled community. Although, as a country, our laws do not completely remedy the issue that face the disabled, we are further on the path towards the ideal than arguably any other country.