The Hidden Story of How the Americans with Disabilities Act Gave the Largest U.S. Minority Its Rights
March 30, 2015
In 2015, the principle of providing accommodations for the disabled—such as bathroom facilities, wheelchair accessibility, and closed captions—is well-established. In this worthwhile but laborious book, Davis seeks to transport readers back to the time before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. This is an extremely detailed account of a complex legislative process (Ted Kennedy compared creating bills to “playing an accordion”) and civil rights movement with “no Selma or Birmingham,” but instead, grueling state-by-state grassroots visits and custom proposals. But, as depicted by Davis, the movement still had its dramatic moments, particularly the “Capitol Crawl” up the steps of the Capitol Building. Interestingly, he suggests that public support for the Act helped steer the close 1988 election to George H.W. Bush, who in July 1990 hosted the ADA’s signing ceremony on the White House lawn. For fans of politics, the circuitous legislative journey detailed here will be fascinating. Agent: Anne Edelstein, Anne Edelstein Literary Agency.
April 15, 2015
An examination of how the Americans with Disabilities Act came about, 25 years after the legislation passed into law. The civil rights movements that get the most attention are often those where the most work remains to be done. Rightly so, but there is also something to be said for spending time exploring past successes, not only for the reassurance that comes from a reminder that change can happen, but also for practical insights into how it happens. Significant progress in other parts of the world has been modeled on the civil rights legislation involved with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Davis (Disability Studies and English/Univ. of Illinois, Chicago; The End of Normal: Identity in a Biocultural Era, 2014, etc.) has done the necessary rigorous research-interviews with dozens of legislators, activists, and others involved in the process-and worked all of those accounts into this book, a mix of journalism and historical overview. It traces back to a handful of individuals: Bob Funk, who helped start the Disabled Rights Education Fund; Patrisha Wright, known as "The General" for her leadership style; Arlene Meyerson, "the brains"; and Mary Lou Breslin, who had the financial acumen. Davis spins the story outward from this core group, and many other players enter the narrative. The DREF worked to bring the disparate elements of a still loosely defined group-"the disabled"-together in common cause. The author's account occasionally veers toward insider baseball; his scholarship on the subject is evident, and at times the narrative is bogged down by it. At the same time, however, there's a great deal on how a few deeply liberal activists and a few staunchly conservative lawmakers found a way to work together to effect real, lasting change. Now, there's a minority that could use some support. Reading this book would be a great first step toward further civil rights progress.
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May 15, 2015
As the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) approaches, this book provides a behind-the-scenes story of the passage of this sweeping law. Having grown up in a deaf family, Davis (disability studies & English, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago; My Sense of Silence) notes the discrimination his family faced and the condescension inherent in popular charity fundraising events such as the Muscular Dystrophy telethons. This book is organized chronologically, starting with personal narratives and 1960s activism that expanded civil rights and protections. It then tracks the legislative application of these principles to the disabled population as embodied in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The author's methodology included interviews with major actors in this landmark legislative process as well as reliance on previous works, archival materials (Bancroft Lib., Univ. of California-Berkeley), and legal assistance. Rather than a standard, legalistic history of legislation and case law, this nonlawyer author provides an engaging and even chatty account covering the personalities and political machinations that resulted in bipartisan passage of the law. The book concludes with a brief evaluation of the ADA as a work-in-progress. VERDICT A lively and well-researched legal saga suited to general readers interested in current events and disability issues.--Antoinette Brinkman, formerly with Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from July 1, 2015
Disability scholar Davis' thoroughly researched story about the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against people with special needs, highlights key politicians' and legislators' connections to people directly impacted by the law. Ted Kennedy's older sister Rosemarie had the IQ of an 8- to 10-year-old and ended up institutionalized after a lobotomy left her with the IQ of a 2-year-old. Kennedy's son Ted was diagnosed with bone cancer at 12 and had his leg amputated. In WWII, a sniper shot Bob Dole, leaving him with an arm that doesn't function. U.S. senator Tom Harkin's older brother was born deaf. And U.S. representative Tony Coelho, the Democratic whip at the time and the primary sponsor of the bill, had epilepsy, as did the wife of U.S. representative Steny Hoyer. Twenty percent of Americans have disabilities, though many with such conditions as diabetes and depression fall into the invisible category. This unique and moving history affirms that the ADA will stand as a crucial civil-rights achievement. The child of two deaf parents, Davis brings his own experience to bear as he reminds us of how much better off we are with the ADA, a clarion call for justice and fairness. A perfect celebration of the ADA's twenty-fifth anniversary.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)