Final answer:
The Rehabilitation Act was formed in 1973, establishing anti-discrimination protections for people with disabilities in federal employment and programs. It was strengthened by Section 504, which prohibited exclusion and discrimination in any federally funded program due to disability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first Rehabilitation Act was formed in the year 1973. This landmark legislation was a significant step forward in the fight for equal rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Before the Rehabilitation Act, there were limited protections for people with disabilities, and society, including federal institutions and federally funded programs, was largely inaccessible to them.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 addressed these issues directly. Notably, Section 504 of this act became a cornerstone for the rights of people with disabilities, stating that no one should be excluded from, denied benefits of or subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded by the federal government due to their disability. This was a huge stride forward and laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
Moreover, the Rehabilitation Act was complemented by the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which mandated that public schools must educate children with disabilities. Not only did these laws provide more inclusionary policies, but they also required that each child's educational experience be tailored to their needs, ensuring an education comparable to that of their non-disabled peers.
The enactment of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 resulted from advocacy and activism by disabled Americans and allies who understood the importance of proper legislation for enabling equal opportunities. The march on Washington in 1970 exemplified the public demand for such reforms, which Congress acknowledged through the passage of the act.