Today is the day of observance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. He worked tirelessly for the civil rights of African-Americans in the 1960’s.Â
What some people may not realize is that he did a lot for disabled people as well. If it weren’t for the barriers he broke down, I don’t think the disabled population, at that time would have even had the courage to fight for the rights we enjoy today.
Yes, as I have said before, I realize that such things as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) could and should be improved but, I also realize that there are a lot of people with a disability who lived before laws like the ADA were in existence and their lives had even more obstacles than what we face today.
In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle to help African-American people get the rights they deserve and be treated as human beings, he also helped disabled people get that much closer to the rights and lives we deserve the opportunity to enjoy. I know in his “I Have a Dream” speech, he spoke of those who not only had a different skin color and religion but, I believe he was also planting the seeds for those who have other barriers, so that they too could live free from discrimination.Â
Happy Birthday Dr. King and thank you for being such an advocate for the human race as a whole.
Thanks for reading..
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