The Disability Rights Movement is rooted in the Civil Rights Movement. The history is rich and interesting to investigate. Those who want to learn more should consider attending Alaska's Reel Eyes film series held annually in March. Additionally, the DSS Lending Library has many titles of interest and several of these are listed at the bottom of this page.

Other good sources of information include:

• Museum of DisAbility History from New York State
• Smithsonian's exhibit on the Disability Rights movement which provides a concise summary 
• UC Berkley's site on the Independent Living and Disability Rights Movements which is brimming with multimedia primary sources and additional references.

Test your knowledge of disability related legislation with the DSS Constitution Day Game.

Constitution Day: An impetus to celebrate the Spirit of the Law

In 2005, UAA participated in Constitution Day. DSS created this webpage, added the American Freedom Speeches to the DSS Lending Library, and offered a workshop through CAFE titled The Spirit of the Law: Access and Inclusion for students with disabilities (handouts are available on the supplemental DSS site). The mandate for institutions to participate in Constitution Day is supplied below:

Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution. "For purposes of the Department's implementation of this requirement, "educational institutions" includes but is not limited to "local educational agencies" and "institutions of higher education" receiving Federal funding from the Department of Education.

The Disability Support Services Lending Library has hundreds of books, videos and journal articles on a wide range of topics. A few suggestions include:

ADA for Non-Disability Student Service Personnel: What Does It Mean for Me?

American Freedom Speeches performed in ASL

Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract

The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies

Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity

The Disability Rights Movement: An ABC-CLIO Companion

Know These Cases! The Most Important Judicial Decisions and OCR Rulings in Higher Education

Make Them Go Away: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Reeve & The Case Against Disability Rights

Mouth Magazine

The New Disability History: American Perspective

Nothing About Us Without Us

Privilege, Power, and Difference

The Ragged Edge

Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity  

Workplace Accommodations Under the ADA

DSS Voter Registration page

UAA Voter Information page