Signing of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

After two previous versions of the bill were vetoed by President Richard Nixon, he finally signed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 on September 26th, 1973. The bill focuses on the employment of people with disabilities, and drew special attention from the disability community and disability activists because of its Section 504.

Section 504 states:
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 705(20) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency or by the United States Postal Service."

Sources:

1. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 (1973). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/centers-offices/civil-rights-center/s...
2. Heumann, Judith, and Kristen Joiner. Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist. Beacon Press, 2020.

 

Associated Place(s)

Event date:

26 Sep 1973 to 26 Sep 1973

Event Source: