01/20/2026
Did you know this?
The disability rights movement grew stronger in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing attention to the need for accessible public spaces for people with disabilities. In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act, especially Section 504, was an important milestone for disability rights in the U.S. Accessible parking did not become a requirement until the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA required accessible parking spaces in both public and private lots and introduced the international symbol of accessibility, the blue and white wheelchair symbol.
[ID: A graphic with a bright yellow background features abstract shapes and a prominent blue parking sign displaying the International Symbol of Access—a white icon of a person using a wheelchair. Beneath the icon, the sign reads “PARKING ONLY.” At the top of the graphic, a logo includes the words “INDEPENDENCE” and “DISABILITY RIGHTS.” Large bold text reads “DISABILITY RIGHTS FUN FACT.” Below, a caption states: “Accessible parking spaces were introduced in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s and became mandatory with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ensuring equal access for millions.”]
