What is progress?

Merriam-Webster includes the following in the definitions of progress:

• “a forward or onward movement (as to an objective or to a goal) : ADVANCE”
• “a gradual betterment especially: the progressive development of human kind”
• “to move forward: PROCEED”
• “to develop a higher, better, or more advanced stage”

Imagine.

Pause. Imagine that it’s 1990. You are in a wheelchair. You do the same work as your peers, but you get paid less. You can’t go to a movie theater because there aren’t accessible seats.

Do we really want to go back to that?

That was life before the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that includes Section 504. Section 504, the section being the one currently being challenged by attorneys general in 17 different states with Texas v. Becerra.

In an essay written in Time on February 19, 2025, Rebekah Taussig wrote:

“In many ways, Section 504 has operated as an almost invisible protection – easy to take for granted. And in doing so, we’ve been able to continue the fiction that disability is something that happens only to others. The undeniable fact is that every one of us will acquire a disability if we live long enough. Disability is an experience we can move in and out of over the course of our lives, and disabled people are the only minority group anyone can become a part of at any moment. Section 504 is not a law for “those people.” …

As with much of U.S. politics right now, Texas v Becerra feels like a reckless attempt to pull us back to a former time. But there is one crucial difference between 1977 and 2025. More than one generation of disabled children has grown up under the protections Section 504 provides us. And while the politicians are still reciting the same script, our revolutionary predecessors gave us a new story. We are a valuable part of our communities, we belong here, and we’ve been shown how to fight.”

Civil Rights Protections aren’t Red Tape

Why do you think civil rights laws such as ADA, the Civil Rights of 1964, and Individuals with Disability Education Act of 1990 (among others) were passed?

It was because people were (and still are, just check Supreme Court Cases) treated differently based on their race, religion, national origin, (dis)ability, gender (and gender identity), and sexual orientation.

Recently, the Trump administration froze the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and changed the board of the EEOC in a manner that has many concerned. These groups are there to protect people’s civil rights against discrimination by employers, schools, businesses, landlords, law enforcement, and more.

If you think that shouldn’t be a concern, just take a look at what Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga) said when asked about school lunches after Trump proposed a federal funding freeze that could affect nutrition support for children: “Before I was even 13 years old, I was picking berries in the field, before child labor laws that precluded that. I was a paperboy and when was I was in high school; I worked my entire way through”.

Use of the phrase “back in my day” to dismiss concerns

Just because something was one way in 1954, doesn’t mean it should continue – particularly when it comes to civil rights.

Disclaimer. This post is not medical or legal advice.

The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is based on historical research, analysis, and interpretation, which may be subject to varying perspectives and ongoing scholarly debate. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, I do not guarantee its completeness or infallibility. Historical accounts can be complex and nuanced, and my interpretations reflect my understanding of the available sources at the time of writing.

This blog post may also contain personal opinions and reflections on the historical events and figures discussed. These opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of others. They are offered as a basis for discussion and further exploration of the topic.

Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult multiple sources to form their own informed opinions. I am open to respectful discussion and feedback on the content of this blog post, and I acknowledge that historical understanding can evolve over time. Any errors or omissions brought to my attention will be considered and, where appropriate, corrected.

By reading this blog post, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to the terms of this disclaimer.

---