Civil Rights & Disability Rights
“I would pick [my brother] up and sit him in a chair [on the bus], then go back outside the bus and pick up his wheelchair.”
That’s how Glenn Lomax, the brother of the great Civil rights and Disability rights activist, Brad Lomax, described getting his brother around. In a video recorded for the 30th anniversary of the ADA Law, Glenn shared the difficulties that his brother faced as a Black man in the 1970s living with a disability.
Glenn goes on to share in his video how people with disabilities were basically ignored by society. Back then, there were no resources available to them to live a full life. This led to many people with disabilities being essentially “locked in”. His brother, Brad, however, refused to be “locked in”. Brad wanted to enjoy the rights afforded to everyone else in this country.
Brad Lomax and his personal caregiver Chuck Jackson. Image credit: Easter Seals Disability Services
Sitting down for change
The accessibility accommodations that we take for granted today, were hard fought and hard won by individuals like Brad Lomax. Brad Lomax suffered from multiple sclerosis, and needed a wheelchair to get around. It was with his brother’s support, and that of his personal caregiver, Chuck Jackson, that Brad was able to navigate a world where he was “othered” by both race and disability.
His passion to change things for the better, led him to support the 504 Sit-in. With the support of the Black Panthers, the ADA law and special accommodations that had been passed, would finally be enforced.
It’s hard to believe that only 50 years ago, this was how people in wheelchairs had to get around when using public transportation. On this Black History Month, we celebrate Brad Lomax’s will to never give up. His fight led to accommodations that continue to positively impact millions of people to this day.
Honoring Brad’s legacy
Here at KenCCID, we honor Brad’s legacy to our society in everything we do. We don’t ignore disabilities. Rather, we celebrate them. We see disabilities as an opportunity to provide support and care.
Each person is unique, so are their disabilities. Therefore, we carefully cater our services to the unique needs of each person with disabilities who comes to us.
Our goal remains forever steadfast:
To promote dignity and choice to empower Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities reach their full potential.