Markowitz, Jeff. Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins crawls up the steps of Capitol Building as Micheal Winters encourages her to keep going. March 12, 1990. https://www.history.com.
Ramp It Up! How the ADA was Responsible for Granting Rights to Millions of Disabled Americans
Capitol Crawl
The Capitol Crawl, organized by the activist group ADAPT (Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), became a defining moment in the fight for disability rights, drawing national attention to the urgent need for the ADA.
In a bold act of defiance, protesters - including an 8-year-old girl, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins - left their wheelchairs behind and crawled up the 84 steps of the Capitol Building. As they ascended, they chanted, “What do we want? THE ADA!” This powerful display exposed the societal and physical barriers that people with disabilities faced daily.
Despite growing exhaustion, Jennifer, encouraged by fellow protester Michael Winters, pushed herself to the top. When she reached the summit, her mother was there to embrace her, a touching symbol of resilience and solidarity.
“I remember that it was very hot that day, even though it was March. It was so warm that the cherry blossom trees were already in bloom. I was both
angry and excited and determined to make it to the top. At one point, I remember being out of breath and bumped my lip on one of the concrete steps. I remember yelling: 'I’ll take all night if I have to!'”
Keelan-Chaffins, Jennifer. Interview by the author. January 6, 2025.
Activists including Jennifer participate in the Wheels of Justice march. Olin, Tom. March 12, 1990. https://disabilityrightsflorida.org.
Elliot, Alex. The Capitol Crawl. March 12, 1990. https://dmh.lacounty.gov.
“Doing the Capitol Crawl—it wasn’t just to proclaim my rights, but it was also to proclaim [the rights of] my generation and future generations of kids with disabilities,” Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins.
Keelan-Chaffins, Jennifer. "Doing the Capitol Crawl." Museum of the Courageous. Accessed May 9, 2025. https://motc.org.