How a Life-Changing "Crip Camp" Empowered Fierce Disability Activists

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The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.

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Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution Trailer

Duration: 2 minutes, 40 seconds

Everyone should watch Crip Camp to better understand the point of view of people with disabilities. Why? Because, as one camper says, he learned the problem is not with him, it is with people who don’t have disabilities.

The Camp Jened experience highlighted a huge disconnect. During the summer, the campers were whole, worthy human beings. By comparison, life was different at home.

For example, abled people sidelined them into special ed classes and discouraged them from trying new things. Barriers to access meant entering buildings was difficult or impossible. Abled people designed communication systems people with disabilities couldn’t use.

Sadly, they felt their world would never change. Until Crip Camp.

Crip Camp Graduates Become Activists

Camp Jened’s lovely experience made campers realize their lives could be better. That they had something to strive for. And what’s more, the power of working together.

The film features Judy Heumann, a Camp Jened counselor. She became a prominent disability activist. In 2010 she advised the State Department on international disability rights.

Because Camp Jened helped empower them, many campers showed up years later, at Judy’s call, for strikes, rallies, or sit-ins.

The 504 Sit-In

In 1977, Judy spearheaded a sit-in to support Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. They protested for 28 days.

Without a doubt, this was difficult. For example, many needed help with personal care. Coupled with that, some used special devices to survive. And when opponents cut power to the building and phones, they faced severe challenges.

Despite the hardships, these disability activists found fighting for their rights built their self-esteem. As a result of getting abled people to understand their experiences, they felt empowered.

“Even though 504 wasn’t strongly enforced, the sit in was of historic importance. For the first time we had concrete federal civil rights protection. We had shown ourselves and the country through network TV that we, the most hidden, impoverished, pitied group of people in the nation were capable of waging a deadly serious struggle that brought about profound social change. The sit in was a truly transforming experience the likes of which most of us had never seen before or ever saw again. Those of us with disabilities were imbued with a new sense of pride, strength, community and confidence. For the first time, many of us felt proud of who we were. And we understood that our isolation and segregation stemmed from societal policy, not from some personal defects on our part and our experiences with segregation and discrimination were not just our own personal problems .” – Kitty Cone

And this group demonstrated that people with disabilities can move beyond abled persons’ perceived limitations.

[Are you ready to start your activism journey?]

Hopes From Crip Camp Participants

Camp Jened participants hope the film will help abled people better understand the experience of people with disabilities.

“If we help people to reconsider how they see people with disabilities or on a larger scale anyone that’s not like themselves, then we’ve achieved a great, great deal.” – Jim LeBrecht

“Hopefully, some of those people will leave the film reflecting on how they have treated other disabled people, or how they may have a hidden disability that they’ve never been public about, and why that is.” – Judy Heumann

The film is fun, funny, sad, hopeful, and thought-provoking.

Please watch. Netflix started streaming it in March 2021.