Fight for disability access inspired by Rosa Parks

Man in wheelchair on a train
Photo by Frankie Cordoba on Unsplash.com

Laurell Nutall of The 19th writes (December 1, 2025) about activists in Chicago working for access to public transportation for people with disabilities, describing a 1984 “demonstration . . . reminiscent of Parks’ own protest that had taken place more than 700 miles south and nearly 30 years prior, when she refused to vacate her seat for a White passenger.”

Nutall notes that the “Chicago protest kicked off a years-long battle for disability rights. After a flurry of legislation, formal complaints and more demonstrations around the country, it eventually culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.”

Read the entire story from The 19th.


The 19th is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering the intersection of gender, politics, policy and power. Visit their website at 19thnews.org.

Scroll to Top