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The most progressive move made by Republicans
12 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Meet Justin Dart Jr., heir to the Walgreen fortune and Reagan family friend.
Justin Dart Jr.
Dart in 1998
Born: August 29, 1930; Chicago, Illinois
Died: June 22, 2002 (aged 71); Washington, D.C.
Alma mater: University of Houston
Occupations:
US Official, Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (Chairman, 1989-93)
US Education Department, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services (1984-87)
US Official, National Council on Disability (1981-84)
Texas State, Official Governor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities (1980-85)
Known for: Americans with Disabilities Act
Justin Whitlock Dart Jr. (August 29, 1930 – June 22, 2002) was an American activist and advocate for people with disabilities. He helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and is regarded as the "Godfather of the ADA".
{snip}
Background
Dart came from a wealthy Chicago family. His father, Justin Whitlock Dart Sr., was president of Dart Industries. His mother Ruth Walgreen Dart was the daughter of Walgreen founder Charles R. Walgreen and his wife Myrtle Walgreen. Justin's brother Peter Dart also developed polio.
Dart contracted polio in 1948 before entering the University of Houston, where he earned undergraduate degrees in history and education in 1954; however, the university refused to give him a teaching certificate because of his disability. The university is now home to the Justin Dart Jr. Student Accessibility Center, a facility designed for students who have any type of temporary or permanent health impairment, physical limitation, psychiatric disorder, or learning disability.
Activism
During his time at the University of Houston, which was then segregated, Dart organized the first student group to oppose racism.
After graduating, Dart was a successful entrepreneur who founded three Japanese corporations, but in 1967 he gave up the corporate life to devote himself to the rights of people with disabilities, working in Texas and Washington, D.C. as a member of various state and federal disability commissions. In 1972, Dart switched from identifying as a Democrat to become a Republican.
He opposed the efforts of President Ronald Reagan, a personal friend of the Dart family, to revise the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and in 1981 accepted an appointment from President Reagan to be the vice-chair of the National Council on Disability.
On Capitol Hill, Dart worked closely with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to advance the rights of disabled people, including U.S. Congressman Major Owens of New York City, who served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Education in the U.S. House of Representatives during the late 1980s and early 1990s as well as during the early crafting of the legislative language and the fierce debates on the Americans' With Disability Act (ADA) before its eventual passage in the House of Representatives.
{snip}
"Road to Freedom" tour (part two)
The Darts undertook another tour of the United States with the purpose of continuing a national dialogue about disability. Again with the support of friends and disability advocates, they visited all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the District of Columbia to hold public forums that were attended by more than 30,000 people. This consistent advocacy and long-term conversation is what ultimately earned Justin the title of "Godfather of the ADA" as the information, network and diligence became the foundation of the legislative conversation around the ADA.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The signing ceremony included with President George H.W. Bush, Evan Kemp, Rev. Harold Wilke, Sandra Parrino, and Justin Dart.
President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law. Pictured (left to right): Evan Kemp, Rev. Harold Wilke, Pres. Bush, Sandra Parrino, Justin Dart
{snip}
Dart in 1998
Born: August 29, 1930; Chicago, Illinois
Died: June 22, 2002 (aged 71); Washington, D.C.
Alma mater: University of Houston
Occupations:
US Official, Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (Chairman, 1989-93)
US Education Department, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services (1984-87)
US Official, National Council on Disability (1981-84)
Texas State, Official Governor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities (1980-85)
Known for: Americans with Disabilities Act
Justin Whitlock Dart Jr. (August 29, 1930 – June 22, 2002) was an American activist and advocate for people with disabilities. He helped to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and is regarded as the "Godfather of the ADA".
{snip}
Background
Dart came from a wealthy Chicago family. His father, Justin Whitlock Dart Sr., was president of Dart Industries. His mother Ruth Walgreen Dart was the daughter of Walgreen founder Charles R. Walgreen and his wife Myrtle Walgreen. Justin's brother Peter Dart also developed polio.
Dart contracted polio in 1948 before entering the University of Houston, where he earned undergraduate degrees in history and education in 1954; however, the university refused to give him a teaching certificate because of his disability. The university is now home to the Justin Dart Jr. Student Accessibility Center, a facility designed for students who have any type of temporary or permanent health impairment, physical limitation, psychiatric disorder, or learning disability.
Activism
During his time at the University of Houston, which was then segregated, Dart organized the first student group to oppose racism.
After graduating, Dart was a successful entrepreneur who founded three Japanese corporations, but in 1967 he gave up the corporate life to devote himself to the rights of people with disabilities, working in Texas and Washington, D.C. as a member of various state and federal disability commissions. In 1972, Dart switched from identifying as a Democrat to become a Republican.
He opposed the efforts of President Ronald Reagan, a personal friend of the Dart family, to revise the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and in 1981 accepted an appointment from President Reagan to be the vice-chair of the National Council on Disability.
On Capitol Hill, Dart worked closely with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to advance the rights of disabled people, including U.S. Congressman Major Owens of New York City, who served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Select Education in the U.S. House of Representatives during the late 1980s and early 1990s as well as during the early crafting of the legislative language and the fierce debates on the Americans' With Disability Act (ADA) before its eventual passage in the House of Representatives.
{snip}
"Road to Freedom" tour (part two)
The Darts undertook another tour of the United States with the purpose of continuing a national dialogue about disability. Again with the support of friends and disability advocates, they visited all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the District of Columbia to hold public forums that were attended by more than 30,000 people. This consistent advocacy and long-term conversation is what ultimately earned Justin the title of "Godfather of the ADA" as the information, network and diligence became the foundation of the legislative conversation around the ADA.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The signing ceremony included with President George H.W. Bush, Evan Kemp, Rev. Harold Wilke, Sandra Parrino, and Justin Dart.
President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law. Pictured (left to right): Evan Kemp, Rev. Harold Wilke, Pres. Bush, Sandra Parrino, Justin Dart
{snip}
But today the R party doesn't seem to care about people with disabilities (or anybody)
unless one of their big corporate donors wants them to for profit motives.
Just my 2 cents.
