A conversation with John Wodatch – Part 2

Speakers

John Wodatch
John Wodatch
Former, Chief Disability Rights Section at Civil Rights Division United States Department of Justice
Peter Blanck
Peter Blanck
University Professor, BBI Chairman

Description:

In Part 2 of this interview, Dr. Peter Blanck and John Wodatch, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney with over 40 years of experience with the federal government specializing in the rights of persons with disabilities, continue their discussion of the evolution of disability rights in America. Picking up in the 1970s where he left off, Mr. Wodatch describes the pushback against Section 504 and how it was viewed as a threat to deregulation. He also talks about other legislation, such as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He describes the political debate that arose over disability rights in the context of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and critical court cases, including Alexander v. Choate in 1985, that also helped disability rights.

Mr. Wodatch describes social changes that occurred partly because of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, saying that “although [Section] 504 was precedent-setting, important and foundational, it didn’t go far enough.” As Mr. Wodatch explains, policy makers first fought for a law that protected people with HIV and AIDS from discrimination and later for a law that addressed discrimination more broadly. This process eventually led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

Summary

  • How and why Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act became a law and the nationwide recognition that disabled people deserve equal rights.
  • The impact of 504 and its timing, coming at about the same time as the Independent Living movement of the 1970s.
  • Section 504 built upon the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and advanced disability rights in critical and important ways.
  • The ongoing debate surrounding Section 504 and looks at several court decisions.
  • The fundamental principles behind the law and how it is the legal foundation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in the United States.
  • Wodatch describes the pushback against Section 504 and how it was viewed as a threat to deregulation.
  • Discussion of other legislation, such as the Education of All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  • He describes the political debate that arose over disability rights in the context of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and critical court cases, including Alexander v. Choate in 1985, that also helped disability rights.
  • The social changes that occurred partly because of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1980s,
  • “Although [Section] 504 was precedent-setting, important and foundational, it didn’t go far enough.” As Mr. Wodatch explains, policy makers first fought for a law that protected people with HIV and AIDS from discrimination and later for a law that addressed discrimination more broadly. This process eventually led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.