Watch this PBS documentary chronicling the disability rights movement
by Katy
A first-of-its-kind television documentary will premiere on PBS tomorrow night, October 27th. The film, Lives Worth Living, follows the development of the disability rights movement from its beginning (after World War II, when thousands of disabled veterans returned home) through its burgeoning in the 1960s and 1970s, when it began to adopt the tactics of other social movements.
Lives Worth Living explores how Americans with a wide variety of disabilities banded together to change public perception and policy. The story is told through interviews with people with disabilities who emerged as key leaders and legislators who were influential in passing the ADA. Historical footage shows how activists took action, breaking down curbs that were inaccessible and crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to illustrate their struggles and demand change.
Through demonstrations and legislative battles, the disability rights community finally secured equal civil rights with the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the most transformative pieces of civil rights legislation in American history.
You can visit the film’s website to learn more about the issues involved, view preview clips and read an interview with the filmmaker. A Talkback section on the site allows viewers to share their ideas and opinions.
If you’re not going to be home, check your local listings and set your TIVO or DVR now: Lives Worth Living premieres tomorrow night, Oct. 27th on PBS’s Independent Lens series.