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Eight-Year-Old Activist Crawls Capitol Steps for Disability Rights

4/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On March 12, 1990, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, an eight-year-old disability rights advocate, removed her leg braces and crawled up the U.S. Capitol steps.
On March 13, 1990, she joined advocates who chained themselves in the Rotunda to demand disabilities legislation, chanting “Access is a civil right.”
Police in riot gear intervened, using chain cutters to remove the protesters and arrest them.

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Story summary

On March 12, 1990, Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, an eight-year-old disability rights advocate, removed her leg braces and crawled up the U.S. Capitol steps.
On March 13, 1990, she joined advocates who chained themselves in the Rotunda to demand disabilities legislation, chanting “Access is a civil right.”
Police in riot gear intervened, using chain cutters to remove the protesters and arrest them.