Within most societies, ignorance regarding differences in mental and physical abilities has resulted historically in a broad range of generally harmful responses. In addition to facing frequent ridicule, individuals with disabilities have been subjected to imprisonment, torture, and even execution due solely to their conditions.

During the past two decades, the disability rights movement has grown substantially and is just now recording its first significant victories. In contrast to earlier conceptions of disability, it presupposes the human potential of people with disabilities and maintains that such people have the competence and the right to govern their own lives. Moreover, the movement seeks to promote public policies that foster meaningful, equal opportunities, and which encourage the growth and productive integration of people with disabilities into society. These goals can only be achieved by eliminating a multitude of attitudinal, communication, transportation, physical and other barriers born of erroneous assumptions about disability.

Influenced by the goals, rhetoric, and tactics of the civil rights movement, the modern disability rights movement has been marked by an increased prominence of people with disabilities as its leaders and spokespersons, and the emergence in the 1970’s of the first national cross-disability organization. Significant inroads have also been made in the corporate world. Responding in part to federal mandates, a number of companies have begun hiring people with disabilities and found that the practice improves corporate performance. Spokespersons for such companies have indicated that they do so not for altruistic reasons but in order to strengthen their workforce and the health of their enterprises. Business leaders have spoken out in favor of "full participation" for citizens with disabilities, arguing that business has an economic stake in hiring individuals with disabilities, and thus tapping into a huge and largely overlooked pool of talent.

Notwithstanding these significant developments, the overall status of people with disabilities in our society remains dismal. Two thirds of Americans with disabilities between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four are not working at all, despite their desire to work. According to President Bush, people with disabilities still constitute "the poorest, least educated, and largest minority in America."

Sources: ADA Handbook