From Evolution to Revolution: 250 Years of Disabilities in the United States

From Evolution to Revolution: 250 Years of Disabilities in the United States, examines the American story through the experiences, struggles, activism, and contributions of people with disabilities. Using a critical disability studies lens, the panel will explore how disability has been understood, regulated, medicalized, institutionalized, and contested throughout 250 years of U.S. history. The conversation will confront difficult chapters—including institutionalization, eugenics, segregation, discrimination, and the denial of fundamental civil and human rights—while also highlighting resistance, the Independent Living and Disability Rights Movements, the passage of landmark civil rights protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the continuing movement toward disability justice. Rather than presenting disability history simply as a story of steady progress, the panel will ask what has changed, what has endured, whose experiences have been excluded from the historical record, and what 250 years of American history can teach us about the future of disability rights, access, equity, and belonging.

Moderated by Javier Robles, J.D., Rutgers University, the panel brings together nationally recognized scholars, advocates, policy leaders, and people with lived experience. Confirmed panelists include, Rebecca Cokley, Program Director for U.S. Disability Rights at the Ford Foundation; Joel Michael Reynolds, Ph.D. (they/he), Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor of Philosophy & Disability Studies and Research Scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University; and Sheri-Rose Rubin, Associate Professor, former disability rights lawyer, and disability rights advocate. Together, their perspectives span disability history, philosophy and ethics, civil rights law, public policy, advocacy, and lived experience. Additional panelists will be announced as they are confirmed. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the discussion will ultimately consider an essential question:

What would it mean to build the next chapter of the American story with people with disabilities not merely included, but recognized as central to the nation’s history, present, and future?

Accessibility features:

• Accessible entrance
• Captioning provided
• ASL interpreter provided
• Microphones used to amplify sound
• Accessible seating available

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the access provided, please call (732)887-8722 or email javier.robles@rutgers.edu in advance of your participation.