This Month In Disability Rights History: October 2025

This month, we have important laws, liberating protests, and don’t forget that it’s Disability Employment Awareness month!

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month

This year marks the 80th year of Disability Employment Awareness month. It was first observed in 1945 under the title “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week”. It was expanded to a full month and given its current name in 1988 and now focuses on the full disability spectrum, not just people with physical disabilities. Many states also recognize October as Disability History and Awareness month… so hey, thanks for watching this video and helping us celebrate!

The Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 is Signed – October 30th, 2000

The Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights act of 2000 was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 30th, 2000. The act provided stronger accountability measures for entities receiving federal funds for disability programs, allotted funds for state programs, and provided methods of support for families and workers who assisted people with developmental disabilities. Today, it underpins person-centered, community-based services and ensures that modern innovations in care—like technology and data tools—align with dignity, rights, and inclusion.

JFK signs the Community Mental Health Act: October 31st, 1963

Part of President Kennedy’s New Frontier plan, the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, aimed to create community-based care organizations and further the deinstitutionalization movement. Under the act, the National Institute of Mental Health was meant to establish mental health centers so that patients could seek treatment while working and living at home, instead of being institutionalized. Unfortunately, only about half of the proposed centers were ever built, and none were ever fully-funded. A mixed-success at best, the communities that had the resources to provide care found positive results, and those that did not instead saw an increase in homelessness in the population of people with disabilities after closure of state institutions.

ADAPT “Free Our People” protests in Atlanta Georgia: October 1st, 1990

ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) took to the streets of Atlanta Georgia to advocate for redirecting medicare funds away from institutions and towards community-based care. 60 activists occupied the medical school at Morehouse college, with another 140 activists surrounding the building. The medical school at Morehouse college was chosen because it had been founded by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Louis Sullivan. The activists occupied the building for 42 hours, then marched on a nearby federal building. Many of them were arrested, and were arraigned on-site by a judge on a bus. The protests brought national attention to the overfunding of institutions compared to community-based care. By using bold direct action, activists helped pave the way for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services waivers and reinforced the disability rights movement’s push for full community integration. These efforts influenced long-term policy shifts toward independence and inclusion for people with disabilities.