SummerHaverick 111512 Page1 Historically,theyear1916markedthebeginningofthepoliovirusoutbreak.Theoutbreak beganinNewYorkandspread,infectingmorethan27,000peoplein26states.Therewere approximately6,000deathsandthousandsofcasesofparalysis.Thisepidemiclastedbetween 19161955(Neumann,481).ThevaccinethatprotectedmanyfromtheviruswascreatedbyJonas Salk.ButbeforethevaccinewasinventedmanyAmericansinfectedwiththeviruscamehomewitha walkingdisability.Theyfacedmanybarriersanddiscrimination.Butduringthistrialmanypeopleroseto theoccasionandcreatedinfluentialorganizations,helpingmany. TheNationalFoundationforInfantileParalysis,laterknownasMarchofDimes,wasformedin 1938.Duringtheoutbreakofpolio,apoliovictim,namedFranklinRooseveltbecamepresident.He knewthestrugglesoftheinfectedpeopleandhadanewwaytohelp. (NMAH|Polio:FranklinD.Roosevelt.)In1924,FranklinRoosevelt visitedaspainWarmSprings,Georgia.

Itwassaidthatthemineral watershadtherapeuticpowers.Aftersixweeks,Rooseveltwas convincedthatthewaterhadmademoreprogressinhisrehabilitationthan atanytimeinthepreviousthreeyears.SoRooseveltcreatedatherapeuticcentercalledtheGeorgia WarmSpringsFoundation.Itopeneditsdoorstopatientsfromalloverthe country,providingmedicaltreatmentandanopportunitytospendtimewithothers sufferingtheeffectsofpolio.(FranklinD.RooseveltPresidentialLibraryand Museum)In1934,fundraisingforInfantileParalysisandGeorgiaWarmSprings FoundationstartedwithBirthdayBallsforthepresident.ThefirstBirthday BallraisedoveronemilliondollarsandfutureBirthdayBallsraised overonemillionperyear.Overtheyearsvolunteershelpedand

SummerHaverick 111512 Page2 millionsofpeoplegavemoneyforthecause.MarchofDimesgavecareforthepatientsandalso financedJonasSalkandAlbertSabinfortheirresearch.Thiscaughtmuchattentionbycelebritieslike, LouisArmstrong,LucilleBall,andElvisPresley,whoarrivedtofundraiserstogivetheirsupport. Duringtheyear1954,largescaleclinicaltrialsbeganforJonasSalksnewvaccine.(NMAH|Polio: MarchofDimes)ThevaccinewasahugesuccesswithSalkstatingthevaccineissafe,effectiveand potent.Onceavailable,theU.S.casesofpoliowentdownby8590percent(Palca,Joe).Marchof Dimessoonbegantohelpinotherwaysbyfundingbirthdefectsresearch,healthypregnancy,and helpingthecrisisofprematurity.MarchofDimeshasprevailed,impactingmanyintheirsearchtosave lives. Thepolioepidemicleftthousandsofpeoplewithparalysis. Notbeingabletousetheirlegsgavemanyadisadvantageto opportunitieslikeaccesstohealthcare,specialeducationand, transportation.Thisissuegavenationwideattentionfortheneedto changethis.Intheyear1973,adisabilitypublicpolicywas establishedwiththepassageofSection504ofthe1973Rehabilitation Act.Section504,banneddiscriminationonthebasisofdisabilityby recipientsoffederalfunds,wasmodelledafterpreviouslawswhichbannedrace,ethnicoriginandsex baseddiscriminationbyfederalfundrecipients.(HistoryoftheADA)Thiswashistoric.Forthefirst time,peopleviewedsegrationingdisabledpeople,wrong.Theproblemsdisabledpeoplefacedwere notblamedonthephysicalormentaldisability,butonsocietykeepingthemfromdoingthings. Handicappedpeoplewereseenasaminority,butwithdifferingneeds.Intheyear1990theAmericans withDisabilitiesActwaspassed,givinghandicappedamericansmoreaccesstothingsthatSection504

SummerHaverick 111512 Page3 didntoffer.Thingslike,equalopportunityforemployment,publicservices,andaccommodations. (NMAH|Polio:DisabilityRights.)Nowtherearemanyaccommodationsfordisabledpeoplesuchas specialeducation,publictransportation,andsidewalkramps. Theeffectivevaccinesweptthenation.Vaccinatedchildrenwereprotectedfromthedeadly disease.Buthowcouldpublichealthofficersencourageparentsto immunizetheirchildrenwithouttheburdenofcostsgettinginthe way?TheanswerwastheVaccinationAssistanceActof1962, coordinatedbytheCentersforDiseaseControl.Thisactwasa landmarkinpublichealthlegislation.TheVaccinationAssistanceAct gavestateswith36milliondollarsinfundstogivefreepoliovaccinesand otherchildhooddiseasestochildrenalloverthestates.In1977this nationallandmarklaterlaunchedthefocusofanannualinfantimmunizationweek(NMAH|Polio: ScientificandMedicalLegacy.).Everysince1994,theNIIWhasensuredthatinfantsarefully immunizedagainst14vaccinepreventablediseases(CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention). Poliosweptthenationwithitsdisablingdisease.Butthistrialhasbroughtamericanscloser. Poliochangedamericansaccesstofreevaccination,givenchildrenasecondchance,andhasgiven handicappedpeopleindependence.

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SummerHaverick 111512 Page5 "NMAH|Polio:ScientificandMedicalLegacy."NMAH|Polio:ScientificandMedicalLegacy. N.p.,n.d.Web.19Nov.2012.<http://amhistory.si.edu/polio/howpolio/scimed.htm>. "NMAH|Polio:SocialEffects."NMAH|Polio:SocialEffects.N.p.,n.d.Web.19Nov.2012. <http://amhistory.si.edu/polio/howpolio/social.htm>. "NMAH|Polio:SocialEffects."NMAH|Polio:SocialEffects.N.p.,n.d.Web.19Nov.2012. <http://amhistory.si.edu/polio/howpolio/social.htm>. "NMAH|Polio:TwoVaccines."NMAH|Polio:TwoVaccines.N.p.,n.d.Web.19Nov.2012. <http://amhistory.si.edu/polio/virusvaccine/vacraces.htm>. Palca,Joe."SalkPolioVaccineConqueredTerrifyingDisease."NPR.NPR,12Apr.2005.Web.09 Nov.2012.<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4585992>. "Poliomyelitis."Www.cdc.gov.N.p.,n.d.Web.25Oct.2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/polio.pdf>. "WhateverHappenedtoPolio?"NMAH|Polio.SmithsonianNationalMuseumofAmericanHistory, n.d.Web.28Oct.2012.<http://amhistory.si.edu/polio/index.htm>.