The purpose of this course is to explore how disability has been conceptualized, reacted to, and dealt with by American society at various points in United States history. Broadly speaking, you will learn about the treatment of people with disabilities, about the medical and social constructions of disability that have emerged in American society, and about key advocacy movements from the late 1700s through the 20th century. We will learn of key turning points, such as the wave of prosthetic production after the American Civil War, the beginning and evolution of mental health care in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, since disability is not something that is experienced exactly the same way by everyone, we will also look at the “little moments” in this history. What do individuals with disabilities have to say about living in American society? How has disability been portrayed in culture? What are the issues that individuals and society face concerning disability? Finally, I will introduce you to the medical, cultural, and social models of disability theory that scholars have proposed, and we will question whether these models are still relevant or if it is time to create new approaches to this history.