Skip to main content

The timeline can be navigated with the “Scroll Left” and “Scroll Right” buttons or by dragging the pointer to a date on the timeline waveform (located at the bottom of the screen on the desktop version and on the left of the screen on mobile). To filter by a particular topic and see a smaller section of the data, make a selection on the dropdown “Filters” menu or click “Search” to do a keyword search. Hover over the abbreviated filter tags in the blue boxes to see the complete name of the filter, or click a filter to display all the data with this tag. If you want to take a deeper dive into a specific topic by viewing a narrative essay page and a curated timeline, click on “Stories.”

Read More
A black and white photo of a man in a wheelchair using a wooden wheelchair ramp to exit a building.
A wooden wheelchair ramp (1952). (Photo: University of Illinois Archives)

People with disabilities and the Veterans Administration begin the barrier-free movement.

1950s

DCRJ
A wooden wheelchair ramp (1952). (Photo: University of Illinois Archives)

In partnership with the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and the National Easter Seals Society, this movement begins creating and advocating for standards for barrier-free buildings.