July 26, 1990: From Crip Camp to Change

30 years ago yesterday, our disabled neighbors to the south achieved a momentous and awesome milestone. They were finally heard and acknowledged as a group. As well, a lot of the American disabled community's concerns were addressed and dealt with, and remain so to this day.

After you watch this incredibly awe-inspiring coverage of July 26, 1990, I highly recommend watching the Crip Camp documentary on Netflix, showing how a group of disabled friends meet and bond at Camp Jened, near the Woodstock site, in 1971. The disabled at that time seemed to be just starting to find their voice among themselves as a group. And while it is fascinating to watch very early black-and-white footage of them enjoying fun in all its usual teenage forms (these being hippie times, that's sex, drugs and rock and roll), much more important are the bonds that continue as they leave camp behind and attempt to integrate into a society which is in no way ready for them. And they do protest, shut down streets in New York City, and make themselves heard in Washington.

They are not treated with kid gloves at all. Not by a long shot.

Think Vietnam War era protests.

But the seeds for that wonderful signing ceremony in July 1990 are sown.

And the celebration is earned.

I know that some may have a problem with the term "crip".

None of us wants to hear it screamed at us on the street, obviously.

But the people in the film use it to make a point, likely about how late 60s/early 70s society saw them at the time.

They are just people. Like anyone.




And I have just discovered that Netflix, along with producers Barack and Michelle Obama, consider Crip Camp's message so important, they have made it available on YouTube for free, in case Netflix is not an option:




Mike Hebert