07/08/2026
I'm sure many of you have seen images of the Capitol Crawl floating around social media and news outlets. March 12, 1990 disabled individuals embarked on a monumental movement that would go down in history. The Americans with Disabilities Act had been tied up in legislation for months. Individuals and their families had been fighting for years for accommodations that now feel commonplace for many of us. Accessible entries to public buildings, cutouts in curbs that allow easier access for individuals with mobility challenges, and so much more was on the line, and there was no guarantee that the bill would pass, no guarantee that individuals would receive the services they so desperately needed, no guarantee that relief would come. In response American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit (ADAPT) showed up with activists for a march in Washington. Hundreds of people showed up, and when they reached the capital steps roughly 60 individuals abandoned their mobility aids, canes, walkers, and even wheelchairs, and dropped to the ground and began to crawl up the capital steps armed with copies of the declaration of independence rolled up in their pockets. 8 year old Jennifer Keelan was the youngest person in the group to crawl up the steps. Jennifer started advocating for herself and other disabled individuals at only 6 years old. This demonstration was used to bring visibility to the disabled community and their challenges with accessing public spaces whose architecture severely limited access to individuals with mobility challenges. This monumental event along with other advocacy efforts led to the Americans with Disabilities Act passing. This act has changed the lives of millions of individuals.
