Fifty for 150: Gang of 19 in 1978 makes Colorado a center of disability rights activism

By: Quentin Young

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: June 22, 2026

Words: 497

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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Not long ago American society relegated people with disabilities to broad forms of segregation. It wasn’t until the 1960s that U.S. universities began to admit students with significant disabilities. The first federal program for people with disabilities was enacted less than 100 years ago, with the Social Security Act, and many were institutionalized well into the mid-20th century.

This story is part of Colorado at 150. Each Fifty for …

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