Disability Rights Florida Blog

Disability History: The Wheels of Justice March & Capitol Crawl

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

March 12, 2024, marks the 34th anniversary of the Wheel of Justice Campaign and Capitol Crawl. These powerful demonstrations forced non-disabled people and the United States government to bear witness to the barriers that the disability community faced and pass the ADA.  

Introduction 

Before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, people with disabilities faced many barriers in their communities, transportation, communication, and more.  

Although the government passed the Rehabilitation Act (Rehab Act) in 1973, it only prohibited disability discrimination in government programs.  It did not protect people with disabilities from discrimination in all other aspects of life. People with disabilities experienced segregation and exclusion.  

After the Rehab Act was passed, disabled activists from around the country began to advocate and push the US government for more legal protections. 

Fearsome disability advocates showed their commitment and dedication to a new law through public protests, unrest, sit-ins, and demonstrations. However, many regard the Wheel of Justice Campaign and Capitol Crawl as the most instrumental protests to get the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed. 

Why were people with disabilities fighting for the ADA? 

Before the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was passed, people with disabilities didn’t have the same rights they do now. They had no legal protection to fight against disability discrimination “in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications” (ADA.gov). The disability community faced many barriers to health care, voting, schools, hotels, movie theatres, sports stadiums, and much more. People with disabilities were tired of being left behind and wanted full access to everyday life. 

After years of advocacy, government leaders began writing the ADA. Despite circulating drafts of the ADA around the Capitol, plans to approve and implement the law moved incredibly slowly. In March of 1990, activists planned days of demonstrations that would put pressure on the government and make the whole country see what barriers the disability experienced.

March 12: The Wheels of Justice March & Capitol Crawl  

In the early morning, disability activists from across the country assembled in front of the White House in Washington, D.C.  

Then, over 700 activists started the “Wheels of Justice” march to the United States Capitol. The march was a mile long, and the participants chanted their demands to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.   

“ADA NOW! ADA NOW!” 

“What do we want?”  “ADA!”  “When do we want it?”  “NOW!” 

Crowd of people with various disabilities marching holding signs and an United States flag, but the stars create an icon of a wheelchair user.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Activists marching. They have various disabilities. Some use wheelchairs and one uses a guide dog. Their signs say 'We Shall Overcome' and 'Access is a Civil Right.'

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Once they reached the Capitol, the crowd settled in for powerful speeches. Featured speakers included:

  • Justin Dart Jr,  
  • Representative Pat Schoeder,  
  • I. King Jordan, President, Gallaudet University,  
  • Representative Major Owens,  
  • Bobby Silverstein,  
  • Senate Disability Policy Sub-Committee on Labor and HR,  
  • Evan Kemp, Jr., Chair of the EEOC,  
  • James Brady, former Reagan Press Secretary,  
  • and Mike Auberger, Co-Founder of ADAPT. 

Justin Dart Jr giving a speach. People listening to his speech are cheering.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Representative Major Owens speaking to a crowd. People smile as they listen. 

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Representative Pat Schoeder giving speech. Dozens of press microphones are positioned in front of her.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Evan Kempt speaking into a microphone. He wears a pin that says 'Support the ADA.'

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

After the speeches, 60 people with disabilities got out of their wheelchairs and stopped using their crutches to crawl up the steps leading to the Capitol manually.

  

People with disabilities going up the Captiol steps. Some face towards the steps crawling, while others move up the steps by pushing up and sitting down on each step. Some people carry their canes, crutches, and chairs with them. TV crews and people holding cameras capture the moment.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Two people crawling up the steps. They wear sunglasses and headbands that say 'ADAPT.'

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

 Jennifer, an 8 year old girl, reaching the top of the steps. Camera and photo crews surround her. Then, her mom gives her a big hug.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

US Capitol Crawl with audio description

This video shows various events that took place on March 12. It begins with several speeches by disability activists and then records people with disabilities ascending the Capitol steps.  The rights of this video belong to the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, Special Collections.

After climbing the steps, advocates split up and entered the Capitol building. They told Congress leadership, Speaker of the House Tom Foley and House Minority Leader Bob Michels, to stop stalling and pass the ADA. 

March 13: Occupying the Capitol’s Rotunda 

After marching and climbing the steps, ADAPT activists continued the Wheels of Justice campaign the following day.  On Tuesday morning, over 200 advocates went to the capitol to meet with representatives about passing the ADA. Again, the representatives stalled and argued to push the ADA’s passage back.   

As they did the day before, the activists began to chant their demands to pass the ADA now. The capitol police arrested over 100 demonstrators. After being arrested, however, the protestors had to wait for the accessible paddy wagons. 

People with disabilities chanting as they occupy the Capitol's Rotunda. They have their fists in the air and clap. 

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

People with disabilities waiting outside the capitol for the arriving accessible paddy wagon.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

March 14: Occupying the Capitol Offices 

The following day, on March 14th, approximately 300 activists took over the congressional offices of Representative Hamilton Fish and Bud Shuster, the Judiciary Committee meeting room, and other office spaces. The activists continued their demands that they pass the ADA. At the end of that workday, most protestors left the building. However, some stuck around and continued protesting. The capitol police arrested the remaining ADAPT protestors.

 People with disabilities laying on the ground of Representative Shuster's office.

Used by permission. Tom Olin Collection. University of Toledo Libraries.

Who organized the “Wheels of Justice” March & the Capitol Crawl? 

The disability organization called ADAPT coordinated the “Wheels of Justice” march that led into the Capitol Crawl.  

From ADAPT’s online museum: 

ADAPT started in 1983 to fight for the rights of people with disabilities to live as equals, free and able to pursue liberty and justice and a life of quality. ADAPT grew out of a group of people (known as the Atlantis Community) who fought to free their members from institutions and nursing homes so they might live in the community with the rest of humanity. 

What was the impact of the Wheels of Justice & Capitol Crawl?  

The Wheels of Justice and Capitol Crawl protests occurred in March 1990. The Crawl showed the world plainly what barriers the disability community experienced, and the protests garnered social and political awareness and pressure. A few months after these demonstrations, in July of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.   

The Crawl shined a bright light on the barriers and indignities that the disability community faced every day. In the words of ADAPT’s Bob Kafka, “It showed our determination that no barrier would stop us from gaining our civil rights.” 

Resources: 

Special thank you to Tom Olin and Dan Wilkins for their support and providing the above images. 

Blog written by Maddie Crowley

Maddie is Disability Rights Florida's Social Media and Content Specialist. They are a multiply disabled person who cares deeply for disability issues and believes in the power of advocacy and awareness. Maddie believes that our current advocacy is best when we remember and honor our community's past and the work of our elders. 

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