8. Based on the information in the passage, what can the reader conclude about the Perkins Institute for the Blind?
In the 1800s, people with disabilities were separated from the rest of society in hospitals and institutions. There were a few places that supported them like the Perkins Institute and Gallaudet University. After World War I, veterans who came home from fighting with disabilities helped change people’s attitudes. They wanted to participate in society and technology like hearing aids were created to support them.
During the Civil Rights movement, people with disabilities were able to advocate for more rights and supports. For example, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 helped create equal employment opportunities and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act required the children with disabilities were allowed a free education. Finally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, required public buildings and systems to accommodate people with disabilities by using braille, closed-captions, and wide doors and hallways.
Before the 1900s, people with disabilities did not have much support in society. They were considered invisible by society, locked away in institutions. However, in 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This led the country to offer more supports to people with disabilities in public spaces. As a result, public buildings and systems need to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and service animals, and they need to include information in braille.
Support for people with disabilities has changed a lot in the past 100 years. In the 1880s, people with disabilities were separated from the rest of society. However, after World War I, technology such as hearing aids helped people with disabilities participate in society. The Civil Rights movement further supported them by helping pass laws that protected the rights of people with disabilities and gave them access to services and the right to an education. In the 1990s, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required public buildings and systems to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
