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“My hand trembles, my heart does not.”

With those words Stephen Hopkins, then a 69-year-old member of the Rhode Island legislature, affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence. His cerebral palsy might have shaken his hand, but not his commitment to the right to live a life of freedom and independence.

A former governor of Rhode Island, lawyer and educator, Hopkins was one of the 56 signers of the Declaration. His outspokenness against British tyranny had begun long before the rallying cry was joined by his fellow countrymen. He even wrote a pamphlet called The Rights of Colonies Examined in 1764, in which he criticized British government and recommended colonial home rule.

In keeping with his focus on freedom, Hopkins also authored one of the first anti-slavery laws in the United States in 1774 while he was a member of the General Assembly. His bill made it illegal to import slaves into the Rhode Island colony.

As the nation today debates the reauthorization of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it’s useful to recognize that forward-thinking American leaders have been fighting to ensure independence for those with disabilities since the founding of our nation. Many of those leaders have been visible; others have labored in less visible – but equally impactful – ways.

As Americans with (and without) disabilities consider the reauthorization of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it’s important to remember and applaud the many individuals who have advanced efforts to secure the rights to independence, accessibility and the pursuit of equality for all. So thank you, Stephen Hopkins, for your trembling hand, and your stalwart heart. Your courage helped shape a nation.

Photo courtesy www.gaspee.org.