A conversation with Lex Frieden

Speakers

Lex Frieden
Lex Frieden
Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and he is Adjunct Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine
Peter Blanck
Peter Blanck
University Professor, BBI Chairman

Description

In this episode of “504 at 50,” Dr. Peter Blanck speaks with Lex Frieden, a disability rights activist and leader of the independent living movement. They discuss the evolution of disability rights in the second half of the 20th century. Mr. Frieden notes that amendments were proposed in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections for disabled people, but they were ultimately left out. He explains how that failure led Congress to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and it also helped expand the independent living movement. The disability rights movement of the 1970s and 1980s was defined by collective effort from diverse groups.

Mr. Frieden describes how that collective effort was the groundwork for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, especially in conjunction with the AIDS epidemic. Just as the epidemic led to more concerns about the passage of disability rights legislation, it led to a broader coalition of people seeking protections, which ultimately helped make the ADA law a reality. He adds that these connected events show how and why young people with disabilities must come together to create change, especially considering how social media makes it easier for them to do so.

Summary

  • The evolution of disability rights in the second half of the 20th century.
  • Frieden notes that amendments were proposed in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections for disabled people, but they were ultimately left out.
  • How that failure led Congress to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and it also helped expand the independent living movement.
  • The disability rights movement of the 1970s and 1980s was defined by collective effort from diverse groups.
  • Frieden describes how that collective effort was the groundwork for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, especially in conjunction with the AIDS epidemic.
  • Just as the epidemic led to more concerns about the passage of disability rights legislation, it led to a broader coalition of people seeking protections, which ultimately helped make the ADA law a reality.
  • He adds that these connected events show how and why young people with disabilities must come together to create change, especially considering how social media makes it easier for them to do so.