GBONEWS: War-Worn Elders from Iran to Sudan; Yale Study Debunks Myth of Aging as Downhill Slide; Black Men’s Heart Health; Hunger Persists Despite Meals on Wheels; Pew Report on Caregiving Crisis; NYT on Oldster Substack–70k Subscribers; Wheelchair Activists Said Arrest Us
GENERATIONS BEAT ONLINE NEWS
News Digest of the Journalists Network on Generations.
March 24, 2026 — Volume 33, Number 3
EDITOR’S NOTE: GBONews, e-news of the Journalists Network on Generations (JNG), publishes alerts for journalists, producers and authors covering generational issues. If you have difficulty getting to the full issue of GBONews with the links provided below, simply go to www.gbonews.org to read the latest or past editions. To subscribe to GBONews.org at no charge, simply send a request to Paul with your name, address, phone number and editorial affiliation or note that you freelance. For each issue, we’ll email the table of contents and links to the full issue at www.gbonews.org. GBONews does not provide its list to other entities.
In This Issue: Kings, No! Burgers, Yes! (Exactly what plant is that based on?)
1. WAR-WORN ELDERS: *** “Older People in War: Establishing a New Research Field”;
*** “Amid Iran war, many Israel’s seniors can’t reach safety, and there is no plan to help,” by Orly Sivan, Jerusalem Post;
*** “The Impact of Adverse News About the Gaza War on the Health of Iranian Elderly People: A Qualitative Study,” from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, in “Health Science Reports,” NIH National Library of Medicine;
*** “Kyiv’s elderly endure blackouts and bombardment, clinging to warmth and hope,” by Eleanor Beardsley,NPR News;
*** HelpAge Global/International/USA, updates on Ukraine, Sudan;
*** “Elderly Palestinians determined to stay in Gaza despite terrible conditions,” by Ola Al-Asi, Aljazeera.
2. THE STORYBOARD
*** “Yale Study Debunks Myth: Aging Isn’t a Downhill Slide–Cognitive, Physical Improvements Common” by Paul Kleyman, Aging in America News;
*** “Health system partners with faith ministries to boost heart health,” by Cassandra Spratling, Detroit Free Press;
*** “Accessible walks bring the joys of birding to people with mobility and other limitations,” by Anita Snow, Associated Press;
*** “This yearlong program for grandparents raising children strengthens communities for decades,” by Ellen Eldridge, Georgia Public Broadcasting;
*** “The Meals On Wheels Budget Wasn’t Cut, But More Seniors Will Go Hungry,” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes;
*** “Caregiving Still a Crisis in America, Pew Report Confirms,” by Herb Weiss, Rhode Island’s RINewstoday.com.
3. THE CONFERENCE BEAT: *** Health Journalism ’26, Minneapolis, May 27–30: Association of Health Care Journalists; *** On Aging 2026 Conference in Atlanta, American Society on Aging, April 20-23.
4. GEN BEATLES NEWS: *** “When Life Gave Her Ageism, She Created ‘Oldster,’” by Kasia Pilat, New York Times (Sari Botton Substack has 70,000-plus subscribers); **** American Society on Aging Editorial Director Alison Biggar to Leave after 16 years; *** “Sixty-Five: What Becomes Clear,” by Colin Milner, Founder/CEO of International Council on Active Aging, and its Journal on Active Aging gets perspective.
5. HISTORY ENABLED: *** “How an act of civil disobedience in 1978 Denver helped propel disability rights,” by Joseph Shapiro and Stephanie Wolf, NPR All Things Considered. (They demanded to be arrested!)
1. WAR-WEARY ELDERS: Iran, Ukraine, Sudan
Editor’s note: Old people droning on and on, hardly worth a worry or web link when the drones come a-buzzing. That’s the conclusion of gerontology researchers, news stories—when one can find them—and older folks trapped in or resigned to ride out yet another of life’s wars. Following are a few recent sources and links that ought to prompt more coverage, maybe via local relatives reporters could contact of seniors in battered corners of the planet.
*** “Older People in War: Establishing a New Research Field,” is a two-year research project (Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2028) of the Swedish Research Council being led by Johan Brosché with scholars Karina Shyrokykh and Anders Themnér, Uppsala University:
The Intro: “The world is undergoing an unprecedented demographic shift. By 2050, the population aged 65 and older will more than double, posing major societal challenges to healthcare, economic growth and political representation of older people. Yet, one critical consequence remains overlooked: the changing demographics of war.”
Where: “As the number of older people grows, so does their exposure to armed conflict. Evidence from Gaza, Mozambique, and Ukraine suggests that older adults are among the most victimized groups. These cases represent only a fraction of older people’s suffering in war, yet their experiences remain strikingly invisible in research.”
Key Questions: “We address two key questions: (a) under which conditions are older people most likely to be victimized, and (b) what survival strategies do older adults use to navigate conflict zones?”
The researchers continue, “To answer these questions, we synthesize insights from peace and conflict research and social gerontology, developing a novel analytical framework. We assess our propositions through quantitative analysis and ethnographic field research in Nepal, Syria, and Ukraine.”
*** “Amid Iran war, many Israel’s seniors can’t reach safety, and there is no plan to help – Opinion,” by Orly Sivan, Jerusalem Post (March 10, 2026):
The Lede: “For more than two and a half years, Israel has been living in a state of war. This is no longer a temporary escalation, but an ongoing emergency routine. Sirens, missiles, and direct hits in city centers have become part of daily life. The public adapts, institutions adapt – but one population cannot adapt and often has nowhere to run, nor the physical ability to do so: senior citizens.”
Nowhere to Go: “During the most recent missile attack in June, Israel received early warning. . . . Yet more than half a million senior citizens still live in apartments without protected spaces, without safe rooms, without accessible shelters, and without any realistic ability to reach safety in time. . . . But who is responsible for the hundreds of thousands living in old buildings, on upper floors without elevators and without basic protection?”
*** “The Impact of Adverse News About the Gaza War on the Health of Iranian Elderly People: A Qualitative Study,” by Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh and colleagues from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. “Health Science Reports, NIH National Library of Medicine (Jan. 28, 2026): T
Media Impact: “Studies on the responses of older people who have experienced disasters are contradictory, suggesting two opposing theoretical approaches: the vulnerability and resilience approaches. Therefore, this qualitative study examines the impact of the media on Iranian elderly people during the Gaza war in 2024.”
*** “Kyiv’s elderly endure blackouts and bombardment, clinging to warmth and hope,” by Eleanor Beardsley with producer Polina Lytvynova, NPR News (Feb. 28, 2026, 5-minute listen with written story and photos): The Lede: “There’s electricity on Kyiv’s left bank today, so a small elevator carries visitors up to Liliya Martynivna Lapina’s 10th-floor apartment. The 88-year-old has been spending her days in her bed under a pile of blankets by a bright but cold window, trying to stay warm.”
A Ride-Along: “NPR is accompanying the aid group Starenki, which delivers food and fellowship to the mostly older people stuck in their apartments this winter as they try to survive the frequent heat and power cuts brought on by Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. . . . As Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to make significant progress on the battlefield, he is trying to break the Ukrainian people’s will by plunging them into the cold and dark. . . . Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged those who could leave the city. But many people, especially older adults, have nowhere else to go.’”
*** HelpAge Global/International/USA are various organizational names for one of the most effective advocacy groups working with elders in dire circumstances. With sparse reportage about older people caught in wars or natural disasters, the British-based HelpAge has long been one of the reliable sources of information about the status of seniors at far corners of the planet. Here are two recent updates from them:
* “Four Years Since the War Began: Older People in Ukraine Are Still Being Overlooked,” HelpAgeUSA (Feb. 24, 2026): The Impact — “For millions of people, daily life is still shaped by displacement, damaged infrastructure, and ongoing insecurity. The humanitarian crisis has not ended, but it has become prolonged—and, for older people, increasingly severe.”
The Numbers: “Older people represent roughly a quarter of Ukraine’s population, yet they account for half of civilian deaths and one-third of reported injuries. More than half of Ukrainians over 70 now live alone. Many are managing chronic illness or disability in a context where transportation and health services remain unstable. Despite these increased risks, only about one-third of older people are currently reached by humanitarian assistance.”
* “Sudan’s Older People Caught in a Crisis With No Safe Place to Turn,” HelpAge (Jan. 26, 2026): The Lede– “Since fighting erupted in April 2023, the country has seen repeated waves of displacement. According to the Public Health Situation Analysis released in March 2025, more than 20 million people are in need of health assistance–and around 1 million of them are older people. Initially restricted to Khartoum and Darfur regions, civilians are now faced with worsening armed conflict in the Kordofan region as well, and are at the risk of escalated violence, confinement and starvation.”
Hundreds of Thousands: “UN figures also show that older men and women each make up about 4% of the population living in displacement camps in Sudan, while around 3% of older people live in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. These percentages may seem small, but in a crisis of this scale, they translate into hundreds of thousands of older people struggling to survive in harsh and dangerous conditions.”
*** “Elderly Palestinians determined to stay in Gaza despite terrible conditions,” by Ola Al-Asi, Aljazeera (Feb. 6, 2026): The Studies — “Research by Amnesty International and HelpAge International found that Israel’s blockade of aid and medicines to Gaza had contributed to a ‘physical and mental health crisis.’”
The Loses: “In Gaza, older people are enduring an unprecedented physical and mental-health collapse as a direct result of Israel’s deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza,” Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director of research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, said after the publication of the report.”
The Findings: “The two organisations found that 76 percent of the elderly people interviewed live in tents, with 84 percent saying that their living conditions harmed their health and privacy. In addition, 68 percent of respondents had been forced to stop or reduce medication because of a lack of availability. Nearly half reported skipping meals so that others could eat.”
2. THE STORYBOARD
*** “Yale Study Debunks Myth: Aging Isn’t a Downhill Slide–Cognitive, Physical Improvement Common,” by Paul Kleyman, Aging in America News (March 23, 2026): The Dek — “The Lede — “A revelatory new study in the journal Geriatrics, finds that nearly half of people ages 65-plus (45.15%) ‘showed measurable improvement in cognitive function, physical function, or both, over time.’”
The Millions: “If this finding was extrapolated to the entire U.S. population,” writes, Becca R. Levy, PhD, principal investigator of “Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs”, it would suggest that more than 26 million older persons are experiencing an improvement in functioning.”
Milestone Finding: Levy, author of Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live (Morrow, 2022) is best known for her milestone 2002 study demonstrating that people with very upbeat views of aging as they approach elderhood live on average 7.5 years longer than those with exceptionally dim views of later life.
12-Year Study: “ ‘The Aging Redefined’ study emphasizes, ‘A widespread assumption exists among scientists, health care providers, and the public that later life is a time of inevitable and universal cognitive and physical decline. This assumption is likely due to considering older persons who improve to be exceptions, and the reliance on aging-health measures that do not allow for improvement.” They assert that this negative “predominant narrative . . . needs to be reconsidered.”
Positive Thinking: “‘For the first time,’ wrote Levy and Slade, their research demonstrates that participants who had assimilated more-positive age beliefs were more likely to show improvement in both cognitive and physical function. . . . The “Aging Redefined” study concludes that “the predominant narrative of aging as a time of inevitable and universal decline needs to be reconsidered. . . . Levy observed . . . , ‘What we found is that improvement in later life is not rare, it’s common, and it should be included in our understanding of the aging process.’”
*** “Health system partners with faith ministries to boost heart health,” by Cassandra Spratling, Detroit Free Press, Feb. 27, 2026):
Recruiting Elders: “Research has shown that faith-based health initiatives are especially helpful in reaching older adults because many regularly attend church: ‘Church is one of the best places to find older adults,’ said Janet Banks-McElrath, Detroit coordinator of Henry Ford Health’s Faith Community Nursing Network, which covers southeast Michigan. . . ‘The network was established in 1994 and currently operates in more than 50 churches and other faith-based institutions in southeast Michigan. And that number is growing, Banks-McElrath said.”
The Stats: “African Americans were diagnosed with hypertension 26% more frequently than the total U.S. population in 2024, according to the Office for Minority Health, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, the most recent year data is available, non-Hispanic Black people died from heart disease 35% more frequently than the total population, according to the CDC.”
Health Fairs: “Heart health has always been our focus,“ Banks-McElrath said. “Cardiovascular disease affects so many different organs in the body. In addition to hosting health fairs, the network offers educational workshops, resources, health screenings and works with lay people in congregations to share information.”
*** “This yearlong program for grandparents raising children strengthens communities for decades,” by Ellen Eldridge, Georgia Public Broadcasting (March 2, 2026):
The Dek—Grandparents raising their grandchildren due to absentee parents are eligible for a year of support and intervention through a program at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health.
The Lede: “Julia Melton unofficially adopted her 2-month-old granddaughter Janiah-Joy Melton in 2010 because her son and his girlfriend couldn’t effectively care for their baby. ‘I got legal guardianship when she was getting ready to go to kindergarten, because that was the only way I could register her in school,’ Melton said.”
The Stats: “In Georgia, 93,000 grandparents are raising almost 125,000 grandchildren, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. In Clayton, Fulton and DeKalb counties alone, almost 16,000 grandparents are raising 26,000 grandchildren.”
A Solution: “Susan Kelley founded Project Healthy Grandparents in 1995 as a community service and research study that has served nearly 3,800 grandparents and grandchildren in those metro Atlanta counties. The PHG program is now housed . . . at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health and its Center for Leadership in Disability, and serves about 35 to 40 families every year.”
The Grands: “The intensive program supports grandparents living at or below the poverty level includes wraparound services that strengthen family ties to the community. PHG director and assistant professor Patricia Lawrence said many of the grandparents served in the program have chronic problems with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and mental health.”
The Grandkids: “Janiah-Joy Melton is now 15 and doing well in school, but that might not have been the case without help. Melton’s granddaughter processed academic information slowly, so she entered an Individual Education Program in elementary school, where she worked in smaller groups and had extra time on assignments and tests.”
The Upshot: “They all said, ‘I learned so much in that one year that carried me through, and the developmental screening that you did on my grandchild really made a big difference in their educational success,’ Lawrence said.”
Oh-Oh: “In the past year, one of [Georgia State University’s] state contracts was cut by 40%, which is a significant amount of money, Lawrence said, noting that she is applying for a research grant to see if a shorter program is as effective and would allow them to support more families.”
*** “Accessible walks bring the joys of birding to people with mobility and other limitations,” by Anita Snow, Associated Press (Feb. 28, 2026): The Dek — People in wheelchairs surrounded and barricaded two city buses over the course of two days, demanding wheelchair lifts and chanting, “We will ride.”
What: “Wearing an oxygen pack on her back for her COPD, Marcia OBara is leading a group of nature enthusiasts on a mission to see birds. They carry walking sticks on the flat trails, moving at their own pace, without pressure or competition and enjoying a sense of community.
Who: This is Birding for Every BODY, one of numerous such excursions offered each month by the nonprofit Tucson Bird Alliance with Arizona’s Pima County. It’s part of a growing national movement to help people with physical and other limitations experience birding and nature in general.”
Friendly Feline: “Cat Fribley, . . . said participants’ limitations include mobility issues, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness. Some are neurodivergent, deaf, hard of hearing or have other health concerns. Fribley, who has a mobility scooter for multiple disabilities, said she can go five or six miles while birding on the accessible paths in her residential community in Iowa City, Iowa. ‘In the winter, I bird on my back deck with my coffee,’ she said.”
Where to Look: “Birdability has helped compile a crowdsourced map of accessible birding locations nationwide in partnership with the National Audubon Society, and offers advice to able-bodied birders on how to be more welcoming and inclusive.”
*** “The Meals On Wheels Budget Wasn’t Cut, But More Seniors Will Go Hungry,” by Howard Gleckman, Forbes(March 3, 2026): The Lede — “Critical food programs for older adults, such as Meals on Wheels, avoided major reductions in federal support when Congress finally approved a spending plan . . . . But for the third year in a row, lawmakers froze funding for these efforts. And after taking into account rising costs and a growing population of frail older adults, no increase in funding inevitably will result in reduced services and increasing numbers of hungry seniors.”
The Stats: “Meals programs provide critical nutrition for older adults. About 1 in 7 who visit hospital emergency departments suffer from malnutrition, often because they cannot shop or cook for themselves. These programs also are part of a suite of services that are necessary to help people stay at home. . . . They can reduce the need for more costly nursing home care that may save Medicaid money.”
And: “The need for meals among older adults far exceeds the ability of these local organizations to provide them. Meals on Wheels estimates that about 46,000 seniors are on waiting lists for its services. The group says these older adults will have to wait an average of four months, but some won’t get deliveries for as long as two years.”
Fragmented System: “In Congress’s fragmented budget system, lawmakers who set spending levels for programs such as Meals on Wheels have no responsibility for Medicare or Medicaid. And congressional scorekeepers won’t credit them for health care or nursing home cost savings. . . . Last year, the Administration cut staffing by nearly 50% at the office that administers Older Americans Act programs such as the meals initiatives.”
*** “Caregiving Still a Crisis in America, Pew Report Confirms,” by Herb Weiss, Rhode Island’s RINewstoday.com(March 9, 2026):
The Lede: “Last summer, AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) released their 133-page report, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025, widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive sources of data on family caregivers in America.”
Pew’s Report: “The Pew Research Center (PRC) expanded the national caregiver debate, releasing its own report, Family Caregiving in an Aging America. This report confirmed the results of AARP and NAC’s sweeping report, while adding fresh insight to a rapidly growing body of research on caregivers. These two caregiver reports highlight a powerful demographic trend: . . . a growing need for Congress and state governments to enact laws to assist the nation’s 63 million family caregivers.”
A Disproportionate Share: “Says Jason Resendez, NAC’s President & CEO . . . , caregiving falls hardest on those least equipped to handle it. Lower-income families and women carry a disproportionate share of the load . . . Like other research findings, Resendez notes that [Pew’s] report highlights that social isolation, financial strain, and career disruption are widespread among caregivers — yet these tend to get overshadowed in public conversation by the more visible emotional toll.”
Solutions: “ ‘The [Pew] report shows broad, bipartisan public support for concrete interventions: tax relief, respite care, paid family leave, and direct financial assistance,’ says Resendez.”
Congress: “The Credit for Caring Act, Senate bill (S 925), introduced in the Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and in the House (H.R. 2036) by Representatives Mike Carey (R-OH) and Linda Sánchez (D-CA), offers up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit to help offset caregiving expenses, addressing the significant personal and financial sacrifices caregivers make to support their loved ones.”
3. THE CONFERENCE BEAT
*** Health Journalism ’26, Minneapolis, May 27–30: The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) and Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, will include a wide range of workshops relevant to issues in aging, such as on interviewing chronically-ill patients, Medicare, Medicaid, the health insurance industry, health disparities through a solutions journalism lens, and the role of immigrants in the health care workforce.
One plenary session on emerging entrepreneurship and employer approaches to health care costs will feature Mark Cuban on his Cost Plus Drug Company and Shawn Gremminger, President and CEO at the corporate National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
A conference highlight will be the 22nd annual Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism presentations.
*** On Aging 2026 Conference in Atlanta: Reporters may apply for a gratis media pass to the American Society on Aging’s (ASA) Annual “On Aging” Annual Meeting, in Atlanta, April 20-23. Journalists visiting the conference registration page should use the access code Press26 to unlock a complimentary press registration.
ASA posts guidelines for media applicants on the Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQ page, and one has to scroll down quite a bit to find it. Us the Press26 code online or request a media access pass by emailing abiggar@asaging.org,” to reach the association’s editor, Alison Biggar.
4. GEN BEATLES NEWS
*** “When Life Gave Her Ageism, She Created Oldster,” by Kasia Pilat, New York Times “ (March 3, 2026): The Dek — “Sari Botton started a Substack about getting older after finding employers were reluctant to hire her, a middle-aged woman. With more than 70,000 subscribers, she has clearly struck a nerve.”
The Lede: “Oldster, a Substack newsletter by Sari Botton, came to her in a dream. She even remembers the date it arrived: Aug. 31, 2021. ‘I made a joke about it on Twitter and then I proceeded to realize, ‘Wait a minute, it’s a good idea,’ said Ms. Botton, a 60-year-old writer and editor.”
What It’s Not: “Oldster,” says the story, is “about the experience of getting older, and what that means at different junctures’ . . . . The Substack features personal essays by Ms. Botton and guest essayists . . . and a weekly questionnaire that has been answered by such artists as the novelist John Irving, 84; the Emmy-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, 53; and the actress Rosie O’Donnell, 63. Ms. Botton said contributors ranged in age from 30 to 99. The newsletter also features ‘Ask a Sober Oldster,’ a monthly series in partnership with the Small Bow, a recovery and mental health newsletter and podcast.” Also, noted in the February GBONews, an “OldsterQuestionnaire” with former NYT Editor, age-beat columnist Robert W. Stock.
**** After 16 Years, Alison Biggar will hang up her “tracking” software as editorial director of American Society on Aging (ASA), following its On Aging ’26 conference in Atlanta in April. (See where to apply for a media pass in the “Conference Beat” section above.) Biggar, who’s been juggling production of ASA’s Generations publications, is based in Oakland. Previously, she worked at the Alzheimer’s Association, and viamagazine.com, as well as freelancing.
Biggar will take her cue from deep editorial immersion in our topic area. She emailed GBONews, “I’m retiring at the end of this conference! I’m pretty happy about it, as I’m 65, and it’s just time.”
*** “Sixty-Five: What Becomes Clear,” by Colin Milner, Founder/CEO at International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), LinkedIn post (Feb. 19, 2026): A former journalist, Milner wrote, “Turning sixty-five is less about candles and more about clarity: clarity that comes from finally seeing the patterns shaping my life — the repeated decisions, the unexamined assumptions, the quiet beliefs steering outcomes long before I understood their influence. Six and a half decades accumulate more than years. They accumulate perspective — and perspective, examined honestly, becomes guidance.” Among his organization duties, Milner publishes ICAA’s very well written and edited Journal on Active Aging.
Among Milner’s insights is, “Somewhere between youth and responsibility, many of us renegotiate our relationship with adventure. We trade curiosity for caution. We calculate embarrassment. We edit ourselves in advance. Yet one of the most reliable predictors of a meaningful life may be the willingness to look foolish.”
Conceding, “I have looked foolish more times than I care to admit,” Milner also reflects on “The Myth of a Risk-Free Life,” observing, “Nearly every article outlines what might harm us — what to eat, what to avoid, what to measure, what to monitor. We track steps, heart rates, portfolios, and probabilities. . . . The irony? Efforts to eliminate risk often shrinks life more than risk itself ever would.” He stresses, “Sixty-five is not an endpoint. It is a vantage point. . . . We do not simply age. We accumulate perspective.”
ICAA Nutrition Report: Milner says he is especially proud of ICAA’s special publications, notably its recent report, Reimagining culinary, nutrition and hospitality in senior living: A strategic roadmap. . . . It calls on senior living leaders to transform the role of food, hospitality and nutrition into core drivers of wellness, culture and community. “
Boomers, Gen Xers: Milner stated, “With Boomers and Gen X reshaping expectations around aging, the paper advocates that culinary and hospitality programs must now meet the same standards of quality, story and service as leading restaurants and wellness destinations.” Contact him at colinmilner@icaa.cc; office; 866-335-9777, cell: 604-763-4595; website: www.icaa.cc.
5. HISTORY ENABLED
*** “How an act of civil disobedience in 1978 Denver helped propel disability rights,” by Joseph Shapiro and Stephanie Wolf, NPR All Things Considered (March 19, 2026, 8-minute history lesson with transcript):
SHAPIRO: “In 1978, on the day after the Fourth of July, a group of mostly young people who use wheelchairs surrounded and blocked two city buses. . . The standoff lasted through the night and into the next day. That Gang of 19 was demanding that Denver’s transit agency put wheelchair lifts on buses. They wanted the ability to get onto a bus and ride, too.
GANG OF 19: (Chanting) We want to ride. We want to ride.
SHAPIRO: Disability wasn’t understood as a civil rights issue back then. So on that hot July day in 1978, those disabled people blocking the buses were doing something disabled people were not expected to do.
WOLF: Especially for this group because just a few years earlier, as young adults, teens and even preteens, almost all of them were living in a nursing home. . . .
“John Holland, the lawyer, went to court to get the charges against the attendants dismissed, . . argued that the disabled members of the Gang of 19 had been denied their civil right to be arrested.
HOLLAND: And I’ll never forget saying to the judge, how are we going to have a civil rights movement if we can’t even be arrested? So maybe a little more eloquently like that. (The judge agreed.) The Gang of 19 won the right to be arrested and treated like any other protest group.
WOLF: And they won a lot more. The transit agency agreed to pay for wheelchair lifts on over 200 new buses. The Gang of 19 became the core of a disability civil rights group called ADAPT. Its members used civil disobedience and got arrested across the country to fight for accessible transit, a right that was then written into the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. . . .
SHAPIRO: After buses, ADAPT members began protesting all over the U.S. for laws to help disabled people live outside of nursing homes and institutions, to live in their own homes, and to pursue the promise of the Declaration of Independence to enjoy the same choices and chances given to all Americans.–
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