The Museum of disABILITY History is pleased to announce that lesson plans for grades 4-8 as well as supplemental information are now available! These can be found through the Teacher…
Legislation
New York State:
In New York State, representatives from People Inc. and the Museum of disABILITY History worked with NYS Assemblymember Mark Schroeder of Buffalo, who proposed a resolution establishing the third week of October as Disability History Week. Assemblymember Schroeder’s resolution was passed in the New York State Assembly. Senator Joe Robach of Rochester sponsored the resolution in the NYS Senate where it passed in June 2007. Assemblymember Schroeder and Lieutenant Governor (current Governor) David Paterson participated in a signing ceremony held outside the Museum of disABILITY History on October 18th, 2007, which marked New York State’s first-ever Disability History Week.
Outreach efforts continue in 2008 in order to build support for the NYS Disability History Week initiative. In May 2008, a joint resolution, J5922 and K1731, was passed by the New York State Legislature, again proclaiming the third week of October as Disability History Week. Also in 2008 two companion bills, Assembly Bill #A10801 and Senate Bill #8160, were introduced by NYS Assemblymember Mark Schroeder and Senator Joe Robach. While the earlier resolution would set aside the week for celebration, the bills would bring disability history instruction to NYS schools. Despite a great show of support for the bills by various advocates throughout the state, the bills were in committee when the legislative session ended. Without a vote for passage, they were not passed into law. However, the advocates supporting the NYS Disability History Week initiative are not deterred by this setback, and are already planning to introduce legislation for the 2009 legislative session.
Connecticut:
The Connecticut Youth Leadership Project composed a resolution to establish a Disability Education Awareness Week for the 2007 legislative session. Contact was made with the Lt. Governor and a number of state legislators who expressed support for the project. Representative Andrew Fleischmann, Chairman of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Education Committee, sponsored the bill. After it was introduced, it was decided to include the disability week language within the context of House Bill 7144 (An Act Establishing a Board of Education and Services for Citizens with Autism Spectrum Disorders and an Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and Concerning Persons with Disabilities) which would require the Governor to “proclaim the first week in October of each year as Disability Awareness Week in order to promote disability awareness, foster inclusion of people with disabilities and increase knowledge of the history of the disability civil rights movement.” However, this bill did not pass in the House and therefore did not become law. Organizers are planning to save the language and to renew their efforts in the 2008 legislative session in Connecticut.
Florida:
The Florida Youth Council is seeking to establish two separate weeks (October 1-15) as Disability History and Awareness Weeks to be recognized in Florida public schools. This initiative began when representatives from the Florida Youth Council took their efforts to the 2006 Family Café Conference in Orlando where they met with Governor Jeb Bush. A resolution was subsequently prepared by Senator Mike Fasano’s office and passed by the Florida Senate in 2007.
In 2008, Senator Mike Fasano and House Representative Curtis Richardson introduced companion bills in the Florida House and Senate. House Bill 91/Senate Bill 856 was passed and signed into law by Governor Crist on June 13, 2008. The Youth Council has the support of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and the National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth.
Idaho:
The Idaho State Independent Living Council (SILC) identified the establishment of a Disability History Month as one of their 2007 legislative priorities. They subsequently proposed legislation encouraging Idaho schools to provide instruction on disability history, the independent living movement and disability rights during the month of October. The resolution was passed in March 2007 and went into effect shortly thereafter.
Illinois:
For the first time in Illinois history, its proud citizens with disabilities crafted an official bill that included the implementation of a four-week Disability History and Awareness campaign in Illinois public K-12 schools, and in-state colleges and universities. Illinois Disability History and Awareness legislation is intended to increase students’ consciousness of the civil and human rights, accomplishments, gifts and talents, and respectful treatment of people with disabilities (including their fellow classmates). To garner support, self-advocates from Illinois Voices spoke with Elizabeth Hanselman of the Illinois State Board of Education, who gave her wholehearted endorsement and helpful strategy tips to get the bill passed in Illinois. HB4537 was introduced and passed in the House in April 2008. However the bill was not passed in the Senate. Illinois voices plans to renew their efforts in the 2009 legislative session.
Iowa:
Representatives from Self-Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities have been working diligently to promote a Disability History Week in Iowa. State Senator David Hartsuch introduced a resolution designating the third week of October as Disability History Week. The Senate passed the resolution in April 2007. Governor Chet Culver signed the Disability History Week proclamation during a ceremony on August 9, 2007, which coincided with the Road to Freedom tour stop.
Kentucky:
Senator Julie Denton introduced Senate Joint Resolution 104 on February 7, 2008. This resolution served to designate the first full week in October as Disability History Week and would require Kentucky schools to provide instruction minimally during this week. The resolution was passed by the Senate in March 2008 and referred to the House Education Committee.
Maryland:
The Dandy-Walker Alliance, Inc. is coordinating an initiative to establish the month of October as ‘Disability History and Awareness Month’ in Maryland. The introduction of legislation promoting disability history and awareness instruction in K-12 aschools is currently being discussed. Del. Justin Ross has agreed to introduce the legislation in the 2009 legislative session.
Michigan:
Alumni of the State Youth Leadership Forum are beginning to develop an effort to bring Disability History and Awareness weeks to their state. Under advisement from potential sponsors, they have decided to wait for the next session to proceed with crafting language, and will use the time in between to build stronger coalition.
Montana:
Representatives from the Montana Youth Leadership Forum are currently working on a bill to establish a Disability History Week in the State of Montana. A draft bill has been shared with the Governor’s office, which is providing assistance in securing a sponsor. The proposed legislation is being modeled after West Virginia’s HB 4491 and designates the third week in October as Disability History Week. This initiative has been endorsed by the Statewide Independent Living Council’s Youth Task Force.
New Jersey:
In New Jersey, a grassroots youth movement led by Lead Mentors of Pathways for Exceptional Children is underway to introduce disability history instruction across the state. A group of largely non-disabled youth mentors, with the support of United Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey and other organizations have sent their legislative proposal to Senator Daniel Sweeney. The goal of the bill is to initiate a Disability History and Awareness Week geared toward following the national trend in the third week of October. The New Jersey Department of Education has acknowledged the importance for more diversity in the state curriculum and is working with the Lead Mentors and other stakeholders to evaluate and determine how the Disability History and Awareness Week will be incorporated with an already existing “Special Education Week” celebrated in May of each year.
North Carolina:
The North Carolina Youth Leadership Network has been advocating for the month of October to be devoted to Disability History and Awareness. In March 2007, the proposed legislation was filed in the North Carolina House of Representatives (sponsored by Representative Verla Insko) and the Senate (sponsored by Senator William R. Purcell). The bill was passed in the Senate in early May and the House of Representatives in July. The Youth Leadership Network formed a partnership with the Alliance of Disability Advocates Center for Independent Living. With the support of the disability community and other important allies including the North Carolina Parent Teachers Association, they had the necessary political support to pass the bill.
Pennsylvania:
The Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network and the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council are supportive of an effort to establish a Disability History Week in the State of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network is currently in the process of reviewing other states’ versions of the legislation and developing a strategy.
Rhode Island:
Representatives from the Rhode Island Statewide Independent Living Council recently met with a state representative who agreed to draft and sponsor a Disability History Week resolution in the House of Representatives. In addition, they contacted a state senator to discuss introducing the resolution in the Senate. The resolution was subsequently introduced and passed in the Senate in June 2008. Supporters are hoping to use this success to introduce a bill in 2009 that will establish a statewide Disability History Week.
Washington State:
In 2007, Disability Rights Washington and People First of Washington partnered to do the Self-Advocacy in Motion Project, which builds advocacy and leadership clubs for youth with disabilities in high schools and transition programs. In August 2007, youth from the Self-Advocacy in Motion Project met with Senator McAuliffe and asked her to sponsor a Disability History Month bill, similar to the one that was passed in West Virginia. The Senator agreed to sponsor this legislation. Several advocacy groups and Washington State agencies also enlisted their support, including the Self-Advocates in Leadership Coalition (SAIL), Self-Advocates of Washington (SAW), the State Special Education Coalition, the Governor’s Committee on Disability and Employment Issues, the Arc of Washington and the Developmental Disabilities Council.
Senate Bill 6313 passed both houses and was signed into law on March 26, 2008.
West Virginia:
West Virginia is the first state to pass a bill establishing a Disability History Week. House Bill 4491 was passed by the Senate on March 8, 2006 and signed by Governor Joe Manchin on April 3, 2006. As a result, the third week in October is now designated as Disability History Week in West Virginia, and public schools are required to provide instruction on disability history and disability rights. This initiative was led by the 2005 Youth Disability Caucus, and supported by the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (WVSILC).