79. "We're Taking Him Home" (05:09)

Date:
2017-08-23
Main contributors:
Indiana Disability History Project
Summary:
"It's been a real adventure, but he just was thrown in the mix with his three brothers." Al and Linda Hublar talk about the lack of support and resources available when their son Mark was born with Down syndrome in the 1960s. They have made a point of treating him the same as his siblings without disabilities. Linda and Al were interviewed in New Albany, Indiana in 2017.

80. Al Tolbert - Changes Along the Way (04:01)

Date:
2017-06-15
Main contributors:
Indiana Disability History Project
Summary:
“I've seen some things change, a lot of things change for the better,” says Al Tolbert of the disabilities rights movement. In 1971, Al was in a training accident in Germany that left him paralyzed. After his accident, Al got involved in the Independent Living movement. He says the early days were very crude. “There were laws that people were trying to follow, but I don't think they had a central theme or a central place to go to ask questions or they didn't know exactly if they were doing things right.” When the ADA passed, people finally had guidelines and a place to call for answers. Many people didn’t see a need for the law. Al says, “I remember the chamber of commerce was not in favor of it.” People feared the ADA would put people out of work and hurt small businesses. Instead, Al believes the ADA has been an asset to employers and increased their productivity. Al explains the ADA is one of several laws that has improved the lives of people with disabilities. He discusses the Air Traffic Act and HAVA Act (Help America Vote Act). Despite the progress, Al knows there is more work to do. “There’s more to be done with the ADA in the implementation of it. So we’re not where we should be let’s put it that way. We have more growth to do.” Al was interviewed in 2009 at the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities Conference.