‘We want to ride’: the 1978 protest that sparked the disability rights movement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) serves as a foundational civil rights law, yet its legacy remains deeply rooted in the grassroots activism of the "Gang of 19." In 1978, this group of activists in Denver utilized civil disobedience, blocking city buses to demand accessible public transit, which sparked a broader movement against the forced institutionalization of disabled people. This shift toward independent living, supported by Medicaid-funded personal care, allows individuals like Nikki Bishop to maintain full, community-based lives. Despite these hard-won protections, recent policy shifts and funding threats to Medicaid jeopardize the autonomy of the disability community. The movement continues to rely on the resilience and advocacy strategies pioneered by early activists to protect the fundamental right to live, work, and participate fully in society.