In November, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) hosted an event focused on Disability Activism History that included an overview of a historic context study developed by our Historic Preservation Program and a panel of local disability activists and thinkers. Panelists shared stories… [ Keep reading ]
In 2011, Seattle resident Bob Hayman faced a life-altering challenge: a brain tumor that left him paralyzed on one side of his body. As an active person and athlete, this new reality could have stopped Bob from doing what he loved most — moving. But instead of giving up, Bob… [ Keep reading ]
Meet Marta. This summer our team put out a call to inviting the community to share stories that relate to disability, disability history, and disability activism in Seattle. We received a bundle of ideas — you all are a treasure trove of experiences and memories! One submission came from Marta… [ Keep reading ]
By Beverly Aarons By the 1990’s, Seattle had made a name for itself as a deafblind Mecca by offering a level of community support and specialized services rarely found elsewhere in the country. And the founding of the DeafBlind Service Center (DBSC) in 1986 was critical to etching that narrative… [ Keep reading ]
Did you know that 1 in 4 American adults have a disability? Although this accounts for roughly 42.5 million people, accessibility support and infrastructure are still lacking across the U.S. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are taking a look back at the… [ Keep reading ]
By Colin Wilfrid In 2025, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will reach its 35th anniversary. Signed into federal law in 1990, the ADA is quite possibly the most important piece of disability rights legislation in United States history. This law has been responsible for elevators in multi-story buildings, handicap… [ Keep reading ]
By Colin Wilfrid WARNING: This story talks about a disability-accessible school that the person this story focuses on, Janet Taggart, founded. The school’s original name uses ableist language that some readers may find offensive. Just like all mothers across the world, Janet Taggart loved her daughter, Naida, and she did… [ Keep reading ]
In 2023, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program received a grant to support work toward building inclusion in our history writing and landmarking process. Historic Preservation staff have been supporting a team of researchers and advisors to gather information on the history of disability activism in Seattle for… [ Keep reading ]
The Section 504 protests were a landmark civil rights demonstration that took place in 1977 demanding implementation of laws requiring equal access to federal projects for people with disabilities. Sit-ins and demonstrations happened across the country, and as part of our Disability Activism History Project, we have learned that Seattle… [ Keep reading ]
Disability Pride Month is celebrated each July and serves as an opportunity to honor the history, experiences, achievements, and struggles of the disability community. This July, we sat down with P-Patch Community Gardener Charity Ranger and her caregiver, Kay, to chat about how the accessibility features at the Thomas Street… [ Keep reading ]
