2015-03-19

Indiana Disability History Project

“The history of why there's the University Center for Excellence…is somewhat unique,” states David Mank. David was director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community when he was interviewed in 2015. He shares the story about President Kennedy preparing his State of the Union address in 1962 and realizing there was a lack of information about the quality of life for people with disabilities. President Kennedy shared this information with his sister, Eunice Kennedy, and Bob Cooke, a pediatrician who specialized in developmental disabilities. From their discussion, an idea developed that every state should have a center that could provide data on the status of people with disabilities. This idea grew into the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) of 1963. The legislation also defined the development of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and Protection and Advocacy in every state.

David Mank - interviewee; Jennie Todd - interviewer; Peggy Holtz - videographer/editor

Center for Health Equity at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community and Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities

Legislation; Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC, ISDD, DTC); Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities; Indiana Disability Rights (IDR, IPAS)

1960s

Indiana Disability History Project

Indiana Institute on Disability and Community

English

Copyright © 2018 The Trustees of Indiana University

YouTube URL 

"David Mank - History of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)," YouTube video, 00:04:15, from an interview by the Indiana Disability History Project on March 19, 2015 posted by "Indiana Disability History" on July 26, 2018, https://youtu.be/Vlwes9l0KvI

Catalog Key: 026-mi-01