Carl Stokes Aiding the Handicapped

Carl Stokes Aiding the Handicap

Things weren't always the same back in the 60's people with disability's were treated differently than everybody else. They weren't allowed to work and the ones that went to school weren't allowed in that same class as everybody else. Thanks to Cleveland and Carl Stokes and Goodwill hunting the disabled are looked at like everybody else. A lot has changed since then they didn't have handicap ramps or electronic doors and now everywhere you go you see them just like how we see handicap people we work with or we got to school with everyday.

“Goodwill Industries of Cleveland Annual Report For 1967” Published 1967. Pamphlet (Emmett Mays) Folder 1239 box 65

Emmett Mays was a hard worker who suffered a stroke while working on a hot day at the farm. After the stroke it left his body partially paralyzed his left could barely move and he had a hard time to walk. After he suffered the stroke he was considered disabled and wasn’t allowed to work. This was hard for a man that used to work hard and really loved to work he say "I wanted to work.". He goes on to talk about how it was really hard for him to sit at home and do nothing. He started to become a little depressed Emmett Mays said "I was on my own a loner"

Carl Stokes the first African American in a major city  which was Cleveland. He was one of the first mayors to help give the handicapped people get equal rights. At the the time they wouldn’t be allowed to work until Carl Stokes passed the law allowing the handicapped  the right to work. This made a lot of people happy such as Emmett Mays. Emmett Mays went on to win an award the first year the handicapped were able to work. He won handicap  worker of the year. Many handicapped people found it hard to find jobs which Goodwill hunting Helped them with. Goodwill Hunting was an organization that helped the handicapped  get a job if they couldn’t find one. Emmett Mays said " goodwill life was a life saver"

“The New York Times”, Sunday April 16, 1967, Taxing the Handicapped Folder 1239 box 65.

It was a good thing that Carl Stokes was helping the handicap get jobs but they weren’t being treated fairly. When the Handicapped people were getting jobs they usually weren’t making as much as everybody around. Not only were they not making as much but they were being taxed more just because they were handicapped. The reason why they were doing these things to them was because they weren’t able to do as much as everybody else they would work on one thing all day and that’s all they will have to worry about.

Just because the handicapped were able to get jobs and make money the government took the handicapped people off welfare or any other government support. This was a struggle for the handicapped because many of them wanted to work but from how little they were getting paid and no welfare it was hard for them to get all the things they needed. Just because the handicapped were able to get equal right they still weren’t treated like everybody.

Anthony J Russo, Letter from Anthony J Russo to Mr. Dono, December 26,1968 Folder 1239 Box 65.   

This letter from Anthony J. Russo to Mr. Dono somebody that worked for Carl Stokes was to make January 3rd and 4th legislative clinic days. This made a lot of handicapped people happy because they felt important. This was to honor the handicapped and all the accomplishments that they were able to do. Anthony J Russo says "Our legislators will be present to listen and consult with you." this showed how important Mr. Dono was that he had the attention 100%A lot of events happens on these days there is a big lunch and they give awards out for accomplishments they make.

This was really good for the handicapped because the made them feel loved and needed. Events they used to do on January 3rd would be Local Government problems they will talk about what they need to fix and how. On January 4th they would talk about mental health problems they would educate the people the struggles that people with handicaps go through everyday. Anthony J Russo said "we need to approach these problems." him saying this shows how much they cared about the handicapped and how he wanted to help.

Andrew Dono, Letter from Andrew Dono to Mrs. Colombi, April 29 1968, Folder 1239 Box 65.

This letter from Andrew Dono, to Mrs. Colombi was talking about how they were going to add handicap ramps and automatic doors to city hall " We will be installing a handicap ramp and a electronic door by the east entrance". This was a big deal because it is not like today where everywhere you go there are ramps and automatic doors. This was the first ramp and automatic door in Cleveland. This was a huge help for the handicap. They said they wanted to start the project in "345 days" This was right after the letter was written.

This was a huge help for the handicap because it mad it a lot easier for them to travel. This soon lead to almost every place to get automatic doors and ramps. The handicap didn't need to bring people eveytime they wanted to go somewhere this let them become more independent. This also mad them feel good because they felt people cared about the and they were happy.

Carl B. Stokes, Letter from Carl B. Stokes, to Mrs. Colombi, September 6, 1968, Folder 1239 Box 65- date accessed 4/28/17

This letter from Carl B. Stokes to Mrs. Colombi was how he wanted he to give out the handicapped awards saying "It would be an honor if you can give out the awards". Many people believed that the handicapped people deserved to work just as much as anybody else. Mrs Colombi worked as a chairmen for the Mayor's committee for the the unemployed handicap. Carl choose her because she worked really hard to get people handicapped people jobs saying " I choose for all the hard work you put in."

Many places didn't want a handicapped person working for the so there would be places such as a goodwill hunting that would make jobs for them. If it wasn't for Carl Stokes and the people of the committee for the unemployment handicapped people wouldn't have the rights to work or go to school like everybody else. They worked hard day and night to fight for what they believe in Carl Stokes thanks Mrs. Colombi Saying " thank you for your tireless efforts to fight for what you believe in." It wasn't easy for people to get used to it. In today's society it is a completely normal thing everybody works and goes to school with somebody that is handicapped and doesn't think twice about it. This was because of how hard they fought to get them equal rights.

Carl B. Stokes, Letter from Carl B. Stokes, to Mrs. Henderlinder, February 29, 1968, Folder 1239 Box 65-date accessed 4/28/17

This letter from Carl B . Stokes to Mrs. Henderlinder was to congratulate Mrs. Henderlinder for signing with the committee of unemployment again."I am delighted to have learned that you have again consented to be a member of the Mayor's committee for employment of the handicapped. " Your past dedication to this very important worthwhile cause". Is what Carl Stokes said to Henderlinder showing that he truly cared about what he was doing. He also shows how sincere he is with people that help with the cause. He goes on to thank him and tell him that all the work he is doing is not going unnoticed. For Carl to acknowledge people that work for him means a lot for employees. This made the work harder and it showed them that he cared about them by taking time out of his busy day to thank them.

Carl Stokes says to Mrs Henderlinder " I want to meet up with you and the committee so we can talk about some problems going around." This shows that Carl wasn't only doing these thing in front of a crowed or a press he was doing it behind closed doors. Many people that have power do a lot of talking in front of people but don't do anything when no one is looking. Carl Stokes took it upon himself to what was right and help. He didn't only do what he was supposed to do but he would go and help other people such as the committee he wanted to talk about problems they can fix together.

Secondary Sources

"History of Special Education in Ohio, 1803-1985" State of Ohio department of education, date accessed 4/28/17

Before the handicapped got equal rights they would have to go to school in classes with only people that were handicapped were in. This wasn't fair for them because some of the students who would be at a higher level than some of the other students wouldn't get the education they deserved. Teachers wouldn't have the right education to teach the students because they wouldn't know what the student actually go through. Page 101 " Federal Grants and State contracts with universities to train teachers of special education" this helped the teachers interact with the students and also help the way they taught the students. It wasn't till the 1970's when the handicapped were allowed to be with other students.

It was hard for students that were blind or death to learn with other kids because they need more attention and they need to learn differently from everybody else. This caused the schools not to allow death or blind children because they didn't think it was worth teaching them. " Legislation enacted in last permitted Ohio schools for schools to accept blind-death children." This was a huge step because nobody was being singled out for not being like everybody else. This caused disabled students to further their education. Students were going and getting degrees from colleges and getting jobs in the field that they were graduating from.

"Carl B. Stokes Clinic.", Health Center Clinic,- date accessed 5/6/17

After all the things that Carl Stokes did for helping people and the disabled they opened a clinic in his name "Carl B Stokes Clinic". This was very well deserved because he did so much to help. All that he did, didn't go unnoticed. Naming a clinic after somebody means that he was thought highly of and meaning that he did a lot for the community. He is helping people even when he is passed away.

The clinic is following in the footsteps of Carl B. Stokes "accept all individuals regardless of ability to pay" Even if people don't have the money to pay for health insurance they will help you. They can help with almost anything whether you are sick, pregnant or need dental assistance. They even help people with disability's which was something that Carl Stokes took great pride in it to help with.     

"Goodwill Opens W. 25 St.," Cleveland Call and Post, October 5 1968. - date accessed 5/7/2017

Goodwill opened a new building on West 25 St. the building was to help the handicap with jobs. This building alone helped more than 250 handicap people get jobs. "this is a great step forward for are handicap clients." this was really good for them because some of the handicap people would struggle to get jobs but goodwill didn't help and even started to make buildings to create jobs for them. The goodwill store carried a lot of merchandise that was broken but fixed so that they can sell. The goodwill store was very affordable because they didn't charge as much as other stores did.

Goodwill did as much as it can to help the handicap. They knew that people with disability's can do great things and that's why they did all they could. Goodwill is a big reason why people with disability's are allowed to have jobs. Goodwill hunting was a bbig reason why the disabled have as much equality as us but if it wasn't for Carl Stokes none of it would've happened. He supported them and got a lot of people to follow in his footsteps.

"History of Special Education in Ohio, 1803-1985" State of Ohio department of education, date accessed 4/28/17

This picture shows that the disabled children were at school. It looks like they are very happy. The teacher looks like she had is enjoying her job and got the right education to teach them.

"History of Special Education in Ohio, 1803-1985" State of Ohio department of education, date accessed 4/28/17

This photo shows a mentally challenged person clocking in to go to work. This photo was taken right after the handicap were allowed to work and got equal rights.

"Goodwill History." Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.

This is one of the Goodwill industries locations. You can see the sign that says Jobs for the handicapped. Also if you look in the glass you can see some of things they would sell like chairs and lamp shades. 

This was a piece of the newspaper which is talking about how Cleveland put their first handicap ramp outside of city hall. The picture shows a man sitting in a wheel chair on top of the ramp.

This changed the way I look at things because i'm so used to everything being they way it is today. I never think about what it was to live in the 1960's and to read about it opened my mind and see how much we can learn by reading our history. I was so used to handicap being everyday people like everybody else I never thought that it was completely different. I learned that the handicap didn't have as much equality they do today as they did in 60's. It was awesome to learn how they were able to get jobs and and go to school with everybody else. I would've never thought that Cleveland had a huge part to do with it but Cleveland was like the leader and all the other city's followed us.