Disability rights activist Frieda Zames played a key role in getting New York City's businesses, agencies, and transportation boards to make their infrastructures accessible to people with disabilities. Frieda was adamant that society would not disregard the needs of individuals like herself who required lifts, ramps, and other specialized equipment in order to access public amenities and lead regular lives.Frieda was born in Brooklyn on October 29, 1932. She suffered from polio at a young age, which left her disabled and required her to spend years in the hospital. Consequently, she was forced to rely on clutches for the rest of her life, and later in life, used a mobility scooter. Also, she wasn't fortunate to be placed in the school system's program for students with physical disabilities because she spent a lot of her formative years in a hospital. Therefore, Zames was primarily self-taught.&nbsp;After her many efforts to obtain a formal education, she was able to earn an undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College. She was even inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Her tenacious mother was a constant source of encouragement for her. Her mother would bring Frieda's books to school and sit in her classes with her until she finished her undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College.Soon after earning her college degree, Frieda took on the role of primary provider for her family. She worked as an actuary at MetLife until she had saved enough money to pay for her subsequent education at New York University. Her perseverance did not go unnoticed. She graduated from New York University with a doctorate in mathematics in 1965.Frieda was employed by the New Jersey Technology Institute in Newark in 1966. From 1966 until 1993, she taught a variety of classes there, from remedial to graduate-level classes. In 2000, she took an early retirement and was given the title of associate professor of Mathematics Emeritus.When Frieda joined Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York in the middle of the 1970s, she began to take steps towards political action. She even exchanged her clutches for a mobility scooter so she could easily protest while moving around. She participated in her first protests in the middle of the 1970s when she surrounded an M14 bus on Third Street and Avenue A with a group of paraplegics from Disabled in Action to voice their opposition to the lack of accessible buses for the disabled community.This marked the start of a 20-year battle that resulted in the installation of wheelchair lifts on all MTA buses. Later, Zames was chosen to be the president of Disabled in Action (DIA), a position she held for the next thirty years on several occasions. She also held the position of the company's first vice president during the time of her passing on June 16, 2005.&nbsp;The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, which supported their bus protest. The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, giving disability activists a much more potent tool to fight for their rights.The Empire State Building was sued by Zames the day after the Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect, requiring them to improve accessibility to their building. Eventually, some changes were accepted, such as lowered elevator control panels, automatic doors, and observation deck periscopes with King Kong-shaped handles.Following the significant accomplishments that Freida was able to make, Anne Emerman, a fellow DIA member, claimed that Frieda understood that no one follows the law voluntarily. Additionally, Frieda launched the One-Step campaign, which compelled nearby companies to construct entry ramps for their structures. She began by visiting some of her favorite pastry shops in the area.Thanks to the One-Step campaign, over 350 businesses were ultimately compelled to comply. Zames might have been under five feet tall, but her voice was strong and she had a way of getting people to pay attention and listen when she spoke. Additionally, Frieda took part in a campaign to make the school where she worked wheelchair accessible.Indeed, Frieda was instrumental in making sure that taxis, subways, and other forms of transportation were easily accessible. She also co-authored <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Rights-Movement-Charity-Confrontation/dp/1439907447">The Disability Rights Movement, From Charity to Confrontation </a>with her sister Zoris Zames. This historical overview is currently used as a textbook for disability rights.Interview Link: <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://youtu.be/0P8IqWVsexM">American Disability Act w/ Dr's Doris and Frieda Zames on The Woman's Connection</a>

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Frieda Zames was a disability rights activist, author, and mathematician who championed for accessibility rights throughout her life.

Frieda Zames: New York City disability activist pioneer and mathematician. 

Judith Heumann' Judy' has been at the center of all pivotal moments in most, if not all, disability rights movements. Her work has inspired many and helped millions, if not billions, of individuals with a disability. Even at her age, she still remains a tireless advocate of the disabled community.Judith Heumann was born in Brooklynn, New York, back in 1947. Her parents were German Jewish, Wener and Isle Huemann, who immigrated to the US in the 1930s. Unfortunately, one of the saddest stories is that most of Judith's relatives were murdered during the Holocaust. Her dad was a pretty skilled worker, working long hours in a butcher shop to provide for his family. And his wife was no exception. In fact, the dad nicknamed his wife' Mighty Mite' since she didn't take no for an answer.By the time Huemann was born, there was a polio epidemic globally. What's worse, there was no way to treat the infection or even prevent it using vaccination. Heumann's parents feared their children could catch the sickness. When Huemann was born, it was years before the introduction of the polio vaccine. And at the age of 2 years, Judith was diagnosed with polio, and she later lost her ability to walk.On top of that, Judith's parents didn't know about the access for disabled children or any accommodation available for their child. And when Judith's parents tried to take their daughter to school, the principal physically blocked their family from entering the school premises. On top of that, the principal actually called Judith a 'fire hazard.'But the mom's personality kicked in, and the 'Mighty Mite' refused to accept this for her daughter. Her tenacity made it possible for Judith to enter the school and a public high school at that. This was the opportunity for Judith to pass through the system and get educated.After that, Judith joined Long Island University in Brooklyn. In this university, Judith organized the students to start demanding ramps for easy access for special students. She later graduated with a BA in 1969. The 70s were a formative period for Judith. After working as a camper, she subsequently worked as a counsellor at Camp Jened, a summer camp for people with disabilities.In several interviews, Huemann confessed that this was where they could be themselves. They dated and engaged in swimming and other activities without worrying about anything else. She also said that this was the most liberating experience ever. Many famous and impactful players in the disability rights movement met and came out of Camp Jened.In her twenties, Huemann was actively battling the NYBOE (New York Board of Education). That's because the body refused to give her a teaching license. They were afraid that Huemann couldn't evacuate herself or her students in case of a fire. She vehemently sued the NYBOE, and they chose to settle. Judith became the first teacher in a wheelchair in the state. Huemann took part in several demonstrations, for example, the shutdown of Manhattan traffic, to help protest against President Nixon's veto.Judith organized a 28-day sit-in in the federal building in San Francisco to help enforce crucial sections in the Rehabilitation Act. She was instrumental in founding the Berkeley Center for Independent Living while in San Francisco. Technically, she was instrumental in the Independent Living movement.Judith graduated with a Master's in Public Health in 1975 and co-founded WID (World Institute on Disability). But that was not the end of the fight for Judith. On the contrary, she continued to fight the good fight with the WID, the first global disability rights organization founded by people with disability. She later moved to DC and served as the assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Judith was in the Clinton Administration and served from 1993-2001.And in 2002, Judith worked in the World Bank as their first Advisor on Disability and Development. Years later, Huemann became the first special advisor on Disability Rights for the State Department. She was appointed by President Barrack Obama and worked to push the disability rights part of the State Department's Agenda. She also spearheaded making disability rights part of an international version of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).Judith, in her words, has been fighting for everyone, and her work is recognized through numerous fellowships and awards. She continues living out her life in Washington, DC, with her husband, Jorge Pineda, who's also in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury.

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Judith Heumann is a disability activist, who has been a pioneer in the U.S. disability rights movements since the 1970’s. Through stewardship, collaboration, a shrewdness, Judith has been able to enact several inclusive policy changes including the Americans Disabilities Act of 1990. 

A review of the incredible life of Judith Heumann

Alice Wong is a writer and Chinese-American disability activist. She is also the founder and director of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/">The Disability Visibility Project</a>, a tight-knit online community that supports and promotes the disability media and culture. Her work is centered around ensuring people with disabilities get equal access and inclusivity regardless of their backgrounds.Alice Wong was born in 1974 in Indianapolis after her parents emigrated to the United States from Hong Kong. She was born with spinal muscular atrophy, which causes the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain to die progressively. Due to the progressive weakness of body muscles, Wong stopped walking at just eight years old. She now relies on a motorized wheelchair and an assistive ventilator machine.Growing up, Wong faced many challenges as she felt that she stood out in undesirable ways among her peers. She was the only physically disabled student in her class and, on top of that, one of the few Asian-American learners. For that reason, she largely struggled with internalized racism and a strong urge to want to blend in with her peers.Luckily, in her twenties, Wong drew away from that mentality, and instead of trying to fit in, she devoted her life to fighting for access and visibility on her own terms. Wong attended Indiana University in Indianapolis, where she explored disability history and scholarship. She learned about the independent living movement in Berkley, California. Also, she was exposed to the work of Paul Longmore, a disabled activist, and historian.Following Longmore's advice, a San Francisco State University professor, Wong moved to the West Coast and enrolled in a graduate school where she earned a Master's Degree in Medical Sociology. As a graduate student, she chaired the Disability Interest Group, an organization that sought more participation with people with disabilities in all aspects of the University.After graduation, Alice Wong worked as a Staff Research Associate at the University of California, San Francisco, for over ten years. At the time, her career in disability advocacy grew simultaneously. She participated in qualitative research projects and co-authored the digital curricula of USFC's Community Living Policy Center. Further, Wong extended her research to personal care services for those with disabilities in the larger community.Wong served as Vice Chair of the UCSF Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Disability issues. Also, she served on the San Francisco In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority boards and Asian and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California. While in the position, Wong advocated for UCSF's professional schools to include a disability-related curriculum in their cultural competency courses.Moreover, she spearheaded UCSF's Access- a website describing the accessible features of all significant campus buildings. While at it, Wong fought for other accommodations on Campus for students with disabilities. That included wheelchair-accessible buttons on the elevators and text telephones for deaf learners.Later, in 2013, President Obama appointed Alice Wong to the National Council on Disability, where she served until 2015. This independent federal agency advises the US government on programs, practices, and policies that influence the quality of living for people with disabilities. In 2014, Alice Wong started the Disability Visibility Project. It all started as a partnership with Story Corps in the early days. It gave people with disabilities an opportunity to record their own oral histories.Later, this grew into an online community that documents and amplifies disability media and culture. Growing up, Wong never felt represented in the popular culture as an Asian-American girl with a disability. She wanted to use the Disability Visibility Project to help others tell their stories without the media filtering things out. She hoped that would be empowering for the disabled community.Besides that, Alice Wong has partnered with other disability access projects:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="" href="http://Disabledwritees.com">Disabledwritees.com</a>- this is a website whose main aim is to connect editors with disabled writers and journalists</li><li>The #CripLit- although it's no longer active, it was a series of Twitter discussions with Nicola Griffith</li><li>The #CriptheVote- this is a non-partisan hashtag that has promoted political participation among people with disabilities</li><li>Access in Love- this campaign frames disabilities as an act of Love rather than a burden</li></ul>On top of that, Wong is a board member of 18 million Rising. This advocacy group promoted civic engagement for Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans. Wong has published numerous writings on disability issued by multiple media outlets countrywide. Also, she has participated in editing two anthologies featuring essays by people with disabilities. She expects to publish her Year of the Tiger memoir in 2022.Wong was named one of 16 notable people fighting for equality in America by Time in 2020. She was featured on the September cover of British Vogue under the theme "The Faces of Hope." Wong was named a Disability Futures Fellow by the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Wong has received several honors for her advocacy work, including:<ul><li>The Martin Luther King, Jr. Award (2007)</li><li>The Chancellor's Disability Service Award (2011) from UCSF</li><li>The Beacon Award from the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council (2010)</li><li>The Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award (2016) from the American Association of People with Disabilities for her work with the Disability Visibility Project</li><li>The Indiana University Bicentennial Medal (2020)</li></ul>Wong's work as an activist and writer allows her to continue her intersectional advocacy for the disabled and Asian American communities.

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Alice Wong is a disability activists, whose national impact through policy, media, and literature has galvanized communities and government to shape a more inclusive environment. 

A review of the incredible life of Alice Wong

Healthcare in the United States is still transforming. As medical innovations accelerate, policymakers, on the other hand, are seeking modern approaches to healthcare policy. Over time, people with disabilities haven't always had a voice in the health care debate. Consequently, society hasn't provided services and support people with disabilities need to live well, work, and participate in our communities.People with disabilities have experienced numerous challenges in America for decades, but hero like Bob Casey have stood out for speaking for the community. Robert Patrick Casey Jr. is a politician and attorney and has served as the United States Senator of Pennsylvania since 2007. Senator Casey is a member of multiple Senate committees, including Finance, Health, Labor, Education, Pensions, Nutrition, Agriculture, Forestry, the Joint Economic Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging.Bob Casey was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1982, he graduated from The College of the Holy Cross. Casey spent the majority of the following years teaching fifth-grade students while at the same time coaching basketballers from the eighth grade at Jesuit Volunteer Corps located in inner-city Philadelphia. Later in 1988, Casey graduated from Catholic University, and immediately after, he started practicing his law career in Scranton.Back in 2007, when Bob Casey got elected to the US Senate, a good percentage of the nation either lacked proper health insurance or insurance companies available at the time would discriminate against patients with pre-existing health conditions. Those were dark days when the health care system paid for the healthcare provided instead of the quality. But thankfully, as a nation, we've seen a lot of transformation over the years.In 2010, Bob Casey supported ACA- the Affordable Care ACT with its four goals: independent living, equal opportunity, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency. This has been one of the most transformational things for people with disabilities. It ensures people with disabilities are fairly treated when seeking health insurance and that the companies don't discriminate against anyone with existing conditions. This was a pivotal moment as ACA laid a strong foundation for reforms that ensure the provision of quality healthcareOn top of that, Bob Casey was also the primary Senate Author of Stephen Beck's A Better Life Experience ACT in 2014. This was another crucial moment as this ACT makes it possible for people with disabilities before age 26 to save up to $15,000 yearly and $100,000 without losing their federal disability benefits. Since the ACT was passed, states across the US have created ABLE account programs where people with disabilities can save up for their small business capital, education, home mortgage, or even a car. Later in 2017, Casey introduced an ABLE ACT amendment ABLE Financial Planning ACT, allowing people with disabilities with 529 savings accounts to roll over the funds into their ABLE Account. Further, an ABLE Age Adjustment Act expanded ABLE eligibility to people who are 46 years old.Notably, Casey is also a co-sponsor of the Disability Integration ACT. This reform ensures people with disabilities have the necessary support to live in settings and communities of choice. The 1965 Security Amendment that created the Medicaid program provides that people with disabilities who need long-term services are well supported. Unfortunately, while the Amendment guaranteed institutional care, it didn't guarantee community-based support. But since the Disability Integration Act was passed, it has allowed people with disabilities equal access to community-based services, support, and opportunities.In addition, Casey is the author of POWADA (Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act). When workers age and start developing disabilities, they can experience unfair treatment and discrimination from employers. While we must be keen on the rights of all disabled workers, extra emphasis must be put on the rights of older employees. That's because they often have a harder time getting hired or retaining their jobs. Luckily, POWADA protects older workers with disabilities from being discriminated against by their employers.Bob was also the primary sponsor of and worked to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014. (WIOA). This law focuses on young people with disabilities, providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to transition from school to the workforce. The law focuses on gaining work experience for young people with disabilities through internships, part-time work, summer jobs, and volunteer opportunities. He was also the primary author of the Higher Education Mental Health Act. This bill would establish a set of best practices to assist students with mental health disabilities to continue their education while receiving the necessary support.&nbsp;In 2017 and 2018, he spent much of his time protecting the access to Medicaid for people with disabilities and their families. Casey says that, along with many of his colleagues, he will continue fighting for Medicaid access so that people living with disabilities continue to receive high-quality health care allowing them to work and live in their communities. Bob Casey has undoubtedly fought hard for the disability community. Throughout this Congressional session, he has introduced or co-sponsored several bills that will make it easier for people with disabilities to gain access to everything they need to work competitive jobs and live in their communities.

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Senator Bob Casey is a disability activist in the United States, leading change from his Senator position he’s had for nearly three decades. Advocating for fair treatment, access, and inclusion among populations, Senator Casey has stewarded policy changes that allows persons with disabilities more financial security and independence with the ABLE account.

A review of the incredible life of Bob Casey

Vin Finkelstein was a disability rights activist and writer who died at the age of 73. He was an academic whose writings largely educated people with disabilities on their rights. Vic Finkelstein was born in 1938 and grew up in Durban, South Africa. His life changed forever in 1954 when he attempted a pole vault and broke his neck- a situation that left him paralyzed. Vic was in a wheelchair since the age of 16. The Jewish community in Durban helped with treatment and rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire.After recovery, Vic returned to South Africa, where he attended the University of Natal in Durban and Pietermaritzburg before pursuing a Master’s Degree in Psychology at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. It was during this time that Vic became involved with anti-apartheid activism. In 1966, the flat Vic shared with his cousin was raided, and he couldn’t escape in his wheelchair. Therefore, he was arrested and imprisoned for his involvement with anti-apartheid activities.He was imprisoned for three months, and during that time, he was forced to commit to a period of hard labor, hardship, and deprivation and issued a five-year ban under the Suppression of Communism Act (1967-1972). Finkelstein fled to the United Kingdom as a refugee in 1968 and became involved in the nascent British Disability Movement. Finkelstein describes how his firsthand experiences witnessing apartheid ruling and how the South African police treated him sparked a new way of thinking about society and how disabled people are oppressed.After moving to the UK, Vic Finkelstein quickly established connections with other political people with disabilities. One of the people he connected with was Paul Hunt, yet another disabled activist. They came together and analyzed how the elements of the anti-apartheid movement could be utilized to fight for the civic rights of disabled people. In that regard, Paul published a letter to The Guardian in 1972 calling for a whole new organization established by people with disabilities.Finkelstein was the first person to respond to Paul’s calling, and together they co-founded UPIAS- the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation in 1974. This was the first organization to reject a compensatory medical approach to disabilities. Alternatively, UPIAS focused on the social and structural barriers that oppress people living with disabilities, making them disabled. This is what resulted in the creation of a social model of disability.Vic Finkelstein was the key drafter in laying down the main principles of the social model. He drafted the Fundamental Principles of Disability that described disability as a form of social oppression. This is what today we call the Social Model. Later in his career, Vic turned his attention to the formation of the disability arts. In fact, he helped set up London’s Disability Arts Forum in 1986. The forum was created to help promote and discuss the shared cultural identity of people with disabilities.On top of that, he was also prominent in setting up the British Council Organization of Disabled People in 1981. He even became the first chair of the organization. The same year, Vic represented Britain at the very first world congress that Disabled People’s International established. Professionally, Vic worked as a psychologist for a couple of years in the health service.Vic Finkelstein worked as a professor at Open University until 1994. He mostly held lectures on ‘The Disabled Person in the Society.’ This module is included in the initial courses on disability studies. Later, Vic joined the disability studies at the University of Leeds. At the time, he joined as a visiting senior research fellow. He remained active at the university until he retired in 2008.Vic passed away in 2011, but his legacy is deeply ingrained in all crucial things in the disability struggle today and the power the disability arts movement wields. On top of that, the works of Vic Finkelstein inspired the creation of Disability Equality Training, the campaign for civil rights legislation, and Direct Payments. Today, we are thankful to Vic for the thousands of people worldwide who are now getting a more rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle than they could have imagined because of the battles people like Vic fought.&nbsp;

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Vic Finkelstein is a global disability rights pioneer. Leveraging in his experiences from anti-apartheid movements in his home country of South Africa, Vic deployed successful campaigns, programming, and policy changes to aid the U.K’s progressive disability rights movement. He’s best known for the creation of the social model of disability. 

Vic Finkelstein - Founder of the British Disability Rights Movement

Ola Abu Alghaib is a disability rights activist in the Middle East. She focuses on ensuring that women with disabilities are fully integrated into society. Ola was born in Palestine in an area close to Nablus. Growing up, Ola Abu had big dreams and goals like any other child. Unfortunately, at only the age of 14, she had surgery, but after the procedure, she couldn’t move her right hand or walk.While this was very devastating, but Ola says that the experience never changed who she was at heart and what she dreamed of achieving in her life. Unfortunately, it didn't take long to realize that almost everyone around her perceived her differently after the accident. So many folks around her couldn't see her live a normal life, perceived her as broken, and saw her only option in life as surviving.Ola wanted to prove all these people wrong and strived to be an ambitious and determined woman. During her years in college, Ola Alghaib advocated for her right to an accessible campus. Her voice and efforts earned her a seat on the construction committee on her campus. Therefore, the university administration tasked her with collaborating with the University construction engineers to adapt the campus to the needs of disabled students.After the completion of her first degree, she came across a certain German Organization that advocated for the disabled in the society. Through this German organization, Ola was able to start a rehabilitation center for disabled people. However, throughout the eight years she worked at the organization, she could see she was the only woman. Eventually, she felt that women with disabilities were not getting equal opportunities and decided to air her concerns. Unfortunately, no one cared about her concerns.Later in 2003, Ola earned her Master's Degree from the University in Ramallah. Fast forward to 2006, she finally decided to start the Stars of Hope Society. Het main aim was to foster the abolishment of gender and disability discrimination. This is an organization whose main aim was to address the needs of women with disabilities as well as support these women to realize their rights in society and achieve their goals.Currently, Ola Abu Alghaib works as the Director of Global Influencing and Research at Leonard Cheshire. This organization supports people with disabilities to achieve their goals and life their lives to the maximum. Her current responsibilities at this organization include program design, policy analysis, evaluation and management, research, and the creation of advocacy strategies.She has done most of her research with UN agencies like ILO, WHO, UNESCO, NGOs, and UNICEF, among others. Also, part of her research is with the World Bank and other agencies that support people with disabilities. In addition, Ola Abu's work has included advocacy for the government to adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It's impressive how Ola has also pulled her efforts to mobilize women with disabilities in Palestine, providing them with necessary counseling, skills, medical, and rehabilitation services.In line with that, Ola developed a national advocacy campaign highlighting the forms of discrimination women with disabilities go through. At the same time, the advocacy strives to showcase just how much potential these women have, but it hasn't been realized due to their oppression. Ola has, over the years, voiced her concern that feminist movements also forget women with disabilities in most cases since disability issues make it even more complex for women's rights advocacy. She encourages women with disabilities to demand to be heard and ensure disability gets attention just like other issues.Significantly, Ola Abu Alghaib has also held crucial roles in various policy initiatives supporting women with disabilities. For instance, she has chaired the International Disability and Development Consortium. On top of that, she represents IDD on the policy board of UNPRPD (United Nations Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). Notably, Ola is also a member of the Global Innovation Hub, a board member of the Disability Rights Fund, and a core group member of the Together 2030 agenda.Ola Abu Alghaib was appointed Manager of the Technical Secretariat of the UN partnership of Persons with Disabilities at UNDP in August 2019. Also, shortly after her appointment, she was named to the Gender Equality Top 100 List of the most influential people. Ola embodies the meaning of the word activist throughout her life and work. Her job primarily fights for the rights of people who are underrepresented or ignored by society

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Palestinian Ola Abu Alghaib challenged the status quo of the place persons with disabilities resided in the world. Through her international research into discrimination practices and social cultures, Ola Abu Alghaib breaks down policy barriers in countries to grow equality across its citizens. 

Ola Abu Alghaib, disability rights activist striving for power equality 

Fatima Al-Aqel is a historical activist for people with disabilities. She was one of the bravest Yemen women in history who managed to break all barriers and challenge their disability. Throughout her life, Fatima directed most of her efforts toward advocating for women with sight disabilities in Yemen. In fact, Raja Al-Masabi, the President of the Arab Association for Human Rights, noted that Fatima's work had been educating many women with visual impairment in Yemen.Regardless of her challenges, Fatima remained determined to shape her destiny. This is one of her most admirable traits. She strived to bring change and make a difference in society, especially for other women who had a similar disability as her. And while working as the chairperson of the Amaan Foundation of the blind female's care, she diligently worked for over a decade promoting the rights of girls with sight disabilities. Fatima saw to it that these girls were given equal chances in all aspects of life.Fatima Al-Aqel was born in 1957 in Yemen and passed on January 12, 2012, at 55. She lost her sight back when she was studying at Cairo University. Life changed a lot after her new disability, but that didn't stand in the way of finishing her degree. Fatima is a well-educated woman who graduated with a bachelor's degree in arts and a diploma in Islamic studies. Later in 1995, Fatima opened the first school for the blind in Yemen. This was one of her first foundations in Yemen- Amaan Foundation for blind female's care which focused on fostering girls with sight disabilities.Yemen has always been known to have a high rate of eye diseases and blindness. Many of these diseases are curable, but the unfortunate part is that most Yemenis are not able to afford the treatment. In some cases, Yemenis receive poor medical advice, often leading to blindness. By 2012, it was approximated that there were 76,000 blind Yemenis on average. On top of that, people with disabilities in Yemen face a significant barrier to education and access to public services. Al-Aqel's wish was to make way for women with disabilities to become active members of society, find work and pursue their education further.The foundation had such a humble beginning and started by fostering five girls. But as time passed, Amaan Foundation could foster up to 800 girls across Yemen. The foundation focused its efforts on ensuring blind girls are integrated into all levels of life, workplaces, schools and universities. Amaan worked tirelessly to ensure that every blind girl in the foundation received complete and comprehensive care. It made an ongoing effort to provide the best care and tender attention to all of the girls.The main theme of the Amaan Foundation was that a girl didn't lose all her senses simply because she lost her eyesight. For that reason, she must not be denied her fundamental rights, such as the right to a decent education. That's why Amaan Foundation collaborated with other foundations that support young women with visual disabilities. Amaan collaborated closely with the Education Ministry and other foundations for blind girls to ensure that every blind girl had access to educational resources and services regardless of her circumstances.While the foundation's objective seemed pretty straightforward, it came with many challenges. The foundation's primary goals included protecting girls with sight disabilities from all forms of exploitation and advocating for the rights of blind girls. Therefore, the foundation carried out projects and programs to help girls with sight impairments integrate into society. Amaan's additional goals included stepping up efforts to support more services for girls with sight impairments and increasing societal awareness of the rights of blind women.Al-Aqel began a mutual cooperation agreement between AOBWC and the British Cultural Council in 2001. In 2012, Al-Aqel received the Balqis Award, a $20,000 prize given annually to recognize the contributions of Yemeni women's groups. Al-Aqel was also honored in 2013 at the third annual "Festival of the Blind" in Sana'a for her work with AOBWC in creating a "more compassionate and considerate world for the blind." Al-Aqel and her accomplishments truly exemplified how nothing was impossible. Compared to their humble beginnings, the foundation's current status is a shining example of how determination can lead to success.

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Fatima-al-Aqel is a disability activist in Yemen. Throughout her life, Fatima directed most of her efforts toward advocating for women with sight disabilities in Yemen.

A review of the incredible life of Fatima-al-Aqel

It's rare in today's information age that pivotal figures in U.S. history are not widely known nor mentioned regularly. When people think of a pioneer in U.S. and world history the name Alan Reich might not come in my mind, but it should. A steward for change and prosperity, Mr. Reich's impact on the current world is felt in many facets. Beyond being the first wheelchair user to address the United Nations, he is influential in promoting the betterment of the human condition. His work in the Disability Rights Movement and his leadership of inclusionary policy is felt through countless countries worldwide.Mr. Reich was a New York native and attended Dartmouth College, becoming an All-American in track and field (javelin), first team All-New England in football, and captain of the rugby team. He then completed his master's degree in Russian literature from Middlebury College in 1953 and a diploma in Slavic languages and Eastern European studies from the University of Oxford the same year. Reich served in the U.S. Army as a Russian-language interrogation officer in Germany from 1953 to 1957 . He would later complete his MBA from the Harvard Business School (HBS) in 1959. After HBS, Mr. Reich would accept a management role in the manufacturing department at the Polaroid Corporation.In 1962, while working as an executive at the Polaroid Corporation, an accident at White Pond in Sudbury, Massachusetts steered Alan Reich’s life in a new direction. During his time at White Pond, Alan fell from a rope swing over the pond, hitting his head at the bottom of the lake. Mr. Reich described what happened after he hit his head on the bottom of the pond, “I was conscious but couldn’t move my arms or legs. If I had been alone, I would have drowned.”1 Luckily, Reich was among friends who accompanied him as he was rushed to the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at Boston University Memorial Hospital. There, a surgeon performed a laminectomy at the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, and Alan spent the next three months recovering from the surgery in the hospital. Upon his discharge, Alan, and his wife Gray, would begin the journey navigating life without his ability to walk.Several months later, Alan returned to the Polaroid Corporation, and his colleagues met him with polite reserve. Alan recalls in an interview, “they hadn’t seen anyone come up in the freight elevator — in a wheelchair — to the production floor, much less their former boss.” During his time at Polaroid, Alan learned more about what was being done for those with paraplegia. The answer, very little on a national and local scale. Galvanized by a desire to improve the human condition for others, Alan took a leave from Polaroid. With the help of others, Alan designed the National Paraplegia Association (NPA) in his basement. An association dedicated to the betterment and awareness off the daily lives of individuals with paraplegia and their caregivers. Through relationship building and advocacy, Reich influenced Congress to authorize funding for NPA through the National Institute of Health.Shortly after, Mr. Reich was nominated to an appointment in the State Department. During his 5 years in the State Department, Reich worked with counterparts from other countries to understand and evaluate how those with disabilities were treated and supported. He mentioned seeing similarities between the U.S. other developed countries in how their citizens with disabilities were marginalized, as he put it, "a forgotten part of society, very much in the shadows." Recognizing this travesty, Reich was motivated to turn this insight into an international advocacy movement. Focusing on the improvement of the human condition, Reich championed increased awareness for the issues faced by people with disabilities. Though initially slow to gain traction within the U.S. government, Reich was able to arrange to have a resolution introduced at the United Nations (UN) to have this constituency represented by a permanent representative to the UN. In presenting this resolution, Alan became the first person to address the UN from a wheelchair.After leaving the government, Alan Reich recognized a society gap in both sustained awareness for issues facing those with a disability and funding for social programs to support this population. He developed a &nbsp;solution in partnership between the government and private sector. In 1982, Reich founded the National Organization on Disability (NOD). Using his connections from personal business and public service, he built the organization into a platform to alert the public to the needs and potential of people with disabilities and to prod policymakers into action. NOD’s focus comes from research that identified "pervasive gaps" in levels of participation between those with and without disabilities. The most significant gap, which has changed little over the years, is employment. Throughout the 1980s, Reich was instrumental in promoting awareness of disability issues in both the private and public sectors. . This culminated in 1990, when Reich, along with Richard and Ginny Thornburgh, board members for NOD , persuaded Pope John Paul II to sponsor a 1990 world symposium on disabilities at the Vatican.<img src="/uploads/Image_1_d187520632.png" alt="Image of Zaslavsky, Ilya; Kennedy, Edward Moore, 1932-2009; Dole, Robert J., 1923">Zaslavsky, Ilya; Kennedy, Edward Moore, 1932-2009; Dole, Robert J., 1923-; Zaslavsky is directly behind the podium with the senators behind and around him, Notes: Discussing disability programs, inscriptions: U.S. Senate, Sep 7, 1989<img src="/uploads/Alan_Reich_Image_2_b565e43c88.png" alt="Alan Reich and his wife, Gay, met Pope John Paul II in 1987">Alan Reich and his wife, Gay, met Pope John Paul II in 1987. National Organization on Disability photographMany lawmakers cite Reich's commitment and impact as a crucial part of the passing of the American Disabilities Act of 1990 in its final form. Inclusions such as curb cuts, braille on ATMs and elevators, closed captioning, sign language interpreters at public meetings were all included in the final passing of the ADA. One of the noteworthy contributions still present today due to Reich's advocacy is the depiction of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a wheelchair in the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. Not part of the original plan, Reich lobbied Congress and raised over $1.5MM in funds, overcoming opposition by pointing out that Roosevelt deliberately exposed his disability when visiting a veteran's hospital or a Historically Black College and University to demonstrate that barriers can be overcome.Despite the challenges he faced navigating a world that was not designed for wheelchair users, Reich maintained a positive outlook. In his 25th Dartmouth reunion yearbook, in 1977, Reich reported what he had been doing since graduation, “Marriage. Oxford. Army service. Business school. Polaroid. Children. Department of State. His accident. Three weeks after graduation, I met Gay [his wife] aboard a studentship to Europe, and with some exceptions, life has been smooth sailing ever since."&nbsp;Reich, who died at 75 in 2005, believed that his most important contribution was awakening international consciousness of disability: "When I was in school, I had never seen anyone in a wheelchair. There have been significant, positive changes in attitudes toward participation by the disabled. I consider myself fortunate to do the work that I do.<img src="/uploads/Alan_Reich_Image_3_e4267a9d48.png">Mike Deland, president of the National Organization on Disability, left, and Alan Reich, the organization's founder, at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. National Organization on Disability

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Alan Anderson Reich's work in the Disability Rights Movement has made a long lasting impact on accessibility and inclusion efforts worldwide. Read to learn more about why Alan is a pioneer in the accessibility community.

Alan Anderson Reich - An International Public Servant

Frequent public transportation riders across the United States are familiar with the layouts and accommodations of their cities’ buses, trains, and shuttles. Outfitted in each mode of transport is a large area specifically reserved for people with differing abilities. These offerings have been in circulation for nearly four decades thanks to the bold work of 19 men and women who brought attention to this issue in the summer of 1978. Known as the Gang of 19, this group paved the road for creating the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://adapt.org/">Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit</a> and later landmark legislation, such as the Americans Disability Act (ADA).In 1977, attorney John Holland issued a lawsuit that put Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) in the spotlight for its inequities to residents who needed wheelchair accessibility. At that time, the RTD only had ten wheelchair accessible buses for the city. Holland’s lawsuit stated that Denver needed approximately 213 buses, or one-third of the total fleet, to meet the needs of its residents. This injustice also caught the attention of Wade Blank who was a prominent member of the Atlantis Community, a southwest Denver-based independent living community whose goal was to create a community inclusive to those of all abilities. The Atlantis apartments gave people of differing abilities their first home and, with that, a level of autonomy they had not experienced. For many, they could choose when to go to bed, when to eat, what to eat, who came in their doors—and who did not. Wade organized with others to lead one of the most heated protests the following summer.&nbsp;On July 5th and 6th, 1978, disability rights activism took center stage in the Mile High City. Later known as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.pbs.org/video/the-gang-of-19-ada-movement-hxrjxw/">Gang of 19</a>, a group of disability rights activists staged a protest at one of the busiest intersections in Denver, Broadway and Colfax Avenue. These individuals got out of their wheelchairs and laid down in the street to stop a Denver bus to protest the inaccessibility of the city’s public transit system and the need for transportation equity. As the first bus stopped, another bus on that same route pulled up behind the first bus. More protestors surrounded both buses. These buses stayed in place for the next 24 hours and throughout those hours the Gang of 19 chanted “We will ride!” ushering in a movement that catalyzed transportation equity into the next century.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/denver_19_image1_0a547ef9c3.png"> (Glen Martin, The Denver Post) -- Four demonstrators slept in the street the morning of July 6, 1978, after spending the night blocking two Regional Transportation District buses near the corner of East Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Street. They were among about 30 persons who maintained an overnight vigil to dramatize the need for greater accessibility to public transportation for the disabled. The buses stopped and barricaded by about 30 persons early Wednesday, were freed Thursday morning. The barricade has served its purpose, said Wade Blank.After the two-day protest and months of litigation, Holland and Atlantis appealed and settled with the city of Denver’s transportation leaders. The primary legal victory resulted in Denver RTD retrofitting all 213 buses with wheelchair lifts. The victory spawned a legal avenue for provisions to the rarely enforced disability equality rights acts. The outcome of the protest by the Gang of 19 assisted the creation of the American Disability Rights Act, which was championed by other disability rights activists like Judith Huemann and Patricia Wright.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/denver_19_image2_97685e402c.png" alt="Man in wheelchair protesting next to parked buses on the street"> (Kenn Bisio, The Denver Post) -- Two disabled demonstrators sat near RTD buses on July 5, 1978, near Colfax Avenue and Broadway in Denver. They were among more than 30 persons who barricaded two buses to demand accessibility to transportationToday, these accommodations have created space for people with permanent, temporary, and unseen needs for accessible transportation. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0816-disability.html">&nbsp;According to the CDC</a>, one in seven U.S. adults live with a mobility disability, and that experience can become more common across our population with age. Disabilities don’t always occur at birth and can progress over time. Not all mobile disabilities are visible or require constant use of commonly associated tools such as walkers or wheelchairs. Reliable transportation can improve individual health and decrease healthcare costs – every American, regardless of their abilities, should have access to that public service. The diversity of the experiences of disabilities only strengthens the need for accessibility and universal design to be prioritized in everyday living.For more information on the Gang of 19, we recommend checking out the PBS documentary <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=papy-GT_Ejo">Colorado Experience: The Gang of 19 - ADA Movement</a>.

Featured Image for the Denver 19 log article. Includes woman in wheelchair with "Taxation without transportation" sign

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Read about the bold work of 19 men and women who paved the road for creating the Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit and later landmark legislation, such as the Americans Disability Act (ADA).

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