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American Experience

Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act

Season 37 Episode 2 | 53m 00s

The emotional and dramatic story of the decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. A story of courage and perseverance, the film highlights the determined people who literally put their bodies on the line to achieve their goal and change the lives of all Americans. From AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

Aired: 03/24/25 | Expires: 03/25/28
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Extras
Watch • 9:03
American Experience
Chapter 1 | Kissinger, Part 1
Watch a preview of Part One of Kissinger.
Preview: S37 E6 | 9:03
Watch • 3:41
American Experience
How WWII Shaped Henry Kissinger's Identity
Kissinger escaped Nazi Germany and emigrated to the U.S., where he was drafted in the U.S. Army.
Clip: S37 E6 | 3:41
Watch • 5:00
American Experience
Why Did Kissinger Wage A Secret War On Cambodia?
Kissinger and Nixon authorized the secret bombing of Cambodia in 1969.
Clip: S37 E6 | 5:00
Watch • 2:53
American Experience
Trailer | Kissinger | American Experience
The life of the brilliant foreign policy powerbroker who shaped the world in which we live.
Preview: S37 E6 | 2:53
Watch • 4:45
American Experience
What It Was Like to Work for Henry Kissinger
Hear what it was like working for Henry Kissinger from former staffers.
Clip: S37 E6 | 4:45
Watch • 1:38
American Experience
Trailer | Hard Hat Riot
Watch a preview of Hard Hat Riot.
Preview: S37 E5 | 1:38
Watch • 8:55
American Experience
Chapter 1 | Hard Hat Riot
Watch a preview of Hard Hat Riot.
Preview: S37 E5 | 8:55
Watch • 3:47
American Experience
The 1970 Riot that Split America
What was The Hard Hat Riot?
Clip: S37 E5 | 3:47
Watch • 4:59
American Experience
Who Were the Hard Hats?
At the dawn of the 1970s, blue-collar workers were re-shaping New York City's skyline. But they were
Clip: S37 E5 | 4:59
Watch • 4:13
American Experience
How the Hard Hat Riot Predicted Today's Culture Wars
In December 1969, the United States Selective Service conducted its first draft lottery since World
Clip: S37 E5 | 4:13
All
  • All
  • American Experience Season 37
  • American Experience Season 36
  • American Experience Season 35
  • American Experience Season 34
  • American Experience Season 33
  • American Experience Season 32
  • American Experience Season 31
  • American Experience Season 30
  • American Experience Season 29
  • American Experience Season 28
  • American Experience Season 27
  • American Experience Season 26
  • American Experience Season 25
  • American Experience Season 24
  • American Experience Season 23
  • American Experience Season 22
  • American Experience Season 21
  • American Experience Season 20
  • American Experience Season 19
  • American Experience Season 18
  • American Experience Season 17
  • American Experience Season 16
  • American Experience Season 15
  • American Experience Season 14
  • American Experience Season 13
  • American Experience Season 11
  • American Experience Season 10
  • American Experience Season 7
  • American Experience Season 6
  • American Experience Season 4
  • American Experience Season 3
Watch • 1:22:42
American Experience
Part 2 | Kissinger | American Experience
Discover how Kissinger’s anti-Communism would shape U.S. foreign policy, from Vietnam to the USSR.
Episode: S37 E7 | 1:22:42
Watch • 1:22:49
American Experience
Part 1 | Kissinger | American Experience
The life of the brilliant foreign policy powerbroker who shaped the world in which we live.
Episode: S37 E6 | 1:22:49
Watch • 1:21:16
American Experience
Hard Hat Riot
The violent 1970 clash between student protestors and construction workers in downtown NY.
Episode: S37 E5 | 1:21:16
Watch • 2:16:40
American Experience
The Presidents: FDR (Part 2)
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Episode: S7 E2 | 2:16:40
Watch • 52:39
American Experience
Clearing the Air: The War on Smog
The story of L.A.’s noxious smog problem and the creation of the EPA and Clean Air Act.
Episode: S37 E4 | 52:39
Watch • 52:20
American Experience
Mr. Polaroid
The story of Edwin Land, whose iconic Polaroid camera let everyone instantly chronicle their lives.
Episode: S37 E3 | 52:20
Watch • 1:52:47
American Experience
Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP
The story of one of the most influential yet forgotten civil rights figures, Walter White.
Episode: S37 E1 | 1:52:47
Watch • 1:51:27
American Experience
American Coup: Wilmington 1898
The little-known story of the deadly 1898 race massacre and coup d’etat in Wilmington, NC.
Episode: S36 E7 | 1:51:27
Watch • 52:36
American Experience
The American Vice President
A look at the US vice presidency, from constitutional afterthought to position of political import.
Episode: S36 E6 | 52:36
Watch • 1:53:04
American Experience
The Riot Report
When US inner cities erupted in violence in 1967, LBJ created a commission to investigate.
Episode: S36 E5 | 1:53:04