Mission & History: The 1970's

1970's Timeline

1973 Isabelle and Leonard Goldenson, along with Dr. William Berenberg and other doctors and scientists, addressed the Brademas Congressional Appropriations Committee which resulted in public funding for orthopedic equipment and making public buildings, telephones, transportation and parking spaces accessible to people with disabilities in the United States.

1978 Meeting convened at the California Ames Research Center between NASA's scientists and engineers, university deans and professors, medical professionals and lay people. This conference led to the transfer of space age technology to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. Some benefits included applying lightweight space materials to make wheelchairs more mobile, using remote control devices to help disabled limbs move, developing multi-directional conveyances to allow people with disabilities to surmount obstacles including stairs, and using an astronaut's sensory device to enable people who are blind to cross streets safely.

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