Capturing a defining moment in disability rights history

When Anthony Tusler went to San Francisco for a rally in 1977 with his Pentax Spotmatic camera and a roll of black and white film, he had no idea that he would be documenting a defining moment in disability rights history.

Tusler stayed only for a few hours, long enough to capture 36 shots of the diverse crowd staging the April protest at the Health, Education and Welfare building in San Francisco before heading back to his post as the co-founder of the Disability Resource Center at Sonoma State University and his work advocating for equal access and rights.

But, the protest lasted on, evolving into a 26-day sit-in that’s credited with spurring Joseph Califano Jr., then-U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, to sign into law the anti-discrimination safeguards of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, giving people with disabilities civil rights protection under the law for the first time. The sit-in, which is one of the longest occupations of a federal building in history, is regarded as a precursor to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

Nearly four decades later, the 69-year-old Penngrove resident’s photos, which have become a prominent symbol of the protest, are on display as part of the upcoming “Patient No More: People with Disabilities Securing Civil Rights” exhibit at Santa Rosa Junior College. His images have also been donated to the University of California, Berkeley’s Bancroft Library and were incorporated in a larger 2015 exhibit at The Ed Roberts Campus to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the passing of the ADA.

Among other photos, the traveling exhibit produced by the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University features Tusler’s iconic image of his close friend Steve Dias with a handmade sign reading “We Shall Overcome” propped against his wheelchair as he sits in front of the towering spire of the San Francisco City Hall.

Tusler, who was disabled by an accidental gunshot when he was 5 years old, said his photos illustrate a powerful story.

“It was yet another sit-in and yet another political action, but I like to think when I look at some of the faces in those photos, they were certain we were going to prevail and the cause was just and they were going to be successful,” he said.

Tusler, who struggled to find his identity growing up with a disability in Southern California in the 1950s, said the occupation also served as a way to redefine the public image of people with disabilities, who were at the time often seen as “helpless,” as a powerful population that could accomplish great change.

Though the rally gained support from groups like The Black Panthers and was a key part of local history, Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability Assistant Director Emily Beitiks said many people aren’t aware of the movement.

“It never comes up in any of the stories of San Francisco history,” she said. “The history intertwines with so many others you do know about.”

Through accessible displays of photos and stories, the “Patient No More” exhibit takes viewers through the protest and the era, which Beitiks said was the “first moment of real victory.”

“It showed that the community could show their power and could win, and it left everyone wanting more,” she said.

Petaluman Stan Kosloski, who founded Sonoma County Spinal Cord Injury Support Group, a local group that’s organizing the exhibit at the Santa Rosa Junior College, said the display serves as an important way to inform his community.

“Many people still don’t see disability rights as a part of the civil rights movement in the same way they see people of color or women and other various constituents,” he said. “We want to educate the community about this. Also a lot of the younger people with disabilities are still not aware of the history … we need to make sure that the new generations are brought along and understand that accessible buildings didn’t just land here by themselves and we didn’t have sign language interpreters just show up.”

Tusler, who has dedicated his career to advocating for those with disabilities both in Sonoma County and around the nation, said he hopes his photos play a role in changing perspectives.

“What I want (people) to see is that maybe there are stereotypes they have about disabilities that aren’t true,” he said. “This is a movement, this is a community of people with disabilities and we’re proud of our heritage and proud of who we are – we’re not proud in spite of our disabilities, we’re proud because of them.”

The free exhibit runs from Oct. 14 to Oct. 21 at the Santa Rosa Junior College Bertolini Student Center. The Oct. 14 opening event features an “Equal Eduction for All” speech by Carlo Rossi, with a “Becoming Real in 24 Days” presentation from Graton-based author and sit-in participant HolLynn D’Lil scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 18.

(Contact Hannah Beausang at hannah.beausang@arguscourier.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang.)