DAS Defenders Sponsors Florida's First Historical Marker for Disability Rights Advocate

Grassroots disability justice coalition DAS Defenders, founded in response to Disney Parks changing their Disability Access Service, sponsored Florida’s first historical marker honoring a disability rights advocate.

Beverly Chapman Historical Marker

The marker is dedicated to Beverly Chapman, “a visionary leader whose work reshaped access, inclusion, and opportunity in Florida and across the country.” It’s located at the Center for Independent Living of Central Florida, which Chapman founded in 1976, and was unveiled during the 35th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Bronze plaque honoring Beverly Chapman, noting her advocacy for people with disabilities and lifelong achievements.

Chapman was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 5 and became an advocate for disability rights. In 1979, she was crowned Miss Wheelchair America. With her title, she traveled the country advocating for accessible transportation. She created Shares, Inc., Florida’s first company with the goal of hiring and paying disabled people equitably. She founded the Center for Hi-Tech at Valencia College to provide computer training for people with disabilities.

A black historical marker titled "Center for Independent Living" stands in front of a brick building and trees.

She frequently used the Florida Highway System but was unable to physically reach out to pay tolls. She worked to change this, and in 1988, the Beverly Chapman Act was passed, making toll roads more accessible. This ultimately became the SunPass system.

She advised presidents on disability issues, including the ADA. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush named her “Disabled Person of the Year.”

“Beverly Chapman’s legacy is a call to action,” said a DAS Defenders representative. “She showed us what’s possible when access is treated as a civil right—not a privilege.”

DAS Defenders

A group of people, some with wheelchairs and strollers, pose in front of a Disney castle at an amusement park on a clear Disability Visibility Day. Many are wearing blue clothing.

DAS Defenders was formed in 2024 after Disney Parks changed their Disability Access Service, limiting availability to guests who “due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.” Disney later changed the wording slightly and extended the validity period to 1 year.

Still, several guests with disabilities, including autism, narcolepsy, and terminal cancer, report being denied access. A class action lawsuit was filed against Disney and partner Inspire Health Alliance, alleging that the updates are discriminatory.

DAS Defenders sent a mobile billboard protesting the changes around D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.

DAS Defenders said in a press release, “By honoring Chapman’s life, DAS Defenders coalition affirms the value of disabled leadership, the power of advocacy, and the importance of making disability stories visible in public spaces. As it pushes back against modern-day rollbacks to accessibility, DAS Defenders draws strength and inspiration from trailblazers like Chapman.”

DAS Defenders continues to advocate for the restoration and strengthening of accessible systems at Disney Parks and beyond. The group carries forward the spirit of leaders like Beverly Chapman in advancing the fight for access and equitable public accommodations.

Check out the DAS Defenders website and their petition to “Stop excluding disabled people from Disneyland and Disney World with new policy”.

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