The Cruel History Of America’s ‘Ugly Laws’ That Banned People With Disabilities From Public Life

Between 1867 and 1974, numerous U.S. cities enacted "ugly laws" that criminalized the public presence of individuals with visible physical or cognitive disabilities by labeling them as unsightly or disgusting objects. Originally framed as measures against begging and urban disorder during a period of rapid industrialization, these statutes granted police broad discretion to target and marginalize disabled people rather than addressing their behavior or poverty. The legislation effectively excluded disabled Americans from public life and economic participation until the laws were gradually repealed in the 20th century.

Read at All That's Interesting

All articles from 13 August 2026. Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.