The Capitol Crawl Fighting for the Americans with Disabilities Act CHARACTERS GRACE, a teenager who uses a wheelchair MOM, her mother, who is nondisabled DAD, her father, who is nondisabled ACT I SETTING: Outside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., 1990. The stage is empty but for monumental marble steps upstage; steps reach a landing level, then a painted flat of stairs continue, creating the illusion of the stairs continuing onward out of sight. [Lights come up on the front steps of the Capitol Building and on a thin crowd of people—some use wheelchairs, some crutches, and some are nondisabled. None are on the steps. They carry signs saying “No Amendments to the Americans With Disabilities Act” and “Stop Discrimination Now!” GRACE is using her wheelchair and enters downstage right, accompanied by her mom and dad. All three look around with uncertainty.] 1 GRACE: I know they told us to move to the Capitol steps, but why— 2 DAD: Someone has a plan. We have permission to protest, but maybe they’re planning something more. 3 GRACE: Gee, maybe we should walk up the steps and knock at the door. [frustrated] This isn’t helping. Nothing we do will make a difference. 4 MOM: Gracie, listen to me: The Americans with Disabilities Act is written, and it’s good! But passage of it into law has stalled. That means that the government can change it, amend it, until it ISN’T good anymore. But if they can see how you struggle every day just to get from a parking lot into a store, or from this street here [gesturing over the audience] to the very seat of your government there [gesturing upstage], then maybe they’ll pass this thing quickly. 5 GRACE: But we’ve told them— 6 MOM: And now we have to show them. 7 DAD: [seriously, quietly] YOU have to show them. 8 GRACE: Okay. I know. I get it. But I can’t show them that I can’t get into buildings or get on a bus. We can’t show them how hard it is to do the things you and Mom do without even thinking. I can use my words again and write them another letter and make more phone calls to our senators, but how do I show them what I can’t do? [As Grace speaks, people behind her have begun setting aside their crutches and lowering themselves from wheelchairs; they are crawling, climbing, and pulling themselves up the Capitol steps, one difficult step at a time. Nondisabled people scale the steps beside them, cheering them on and, for some, providing only the barest of help. They catch the attention of MOM, DAD, and GRACE.] 9 MOM: [astonished] There’s no ramp. 10 GRACE: [whispers] I can do that. [louder] I can do THAT! 11 DAD: Grace, look! Show them what you have to do when there’s no ramp, not even on the Capitol steps! 12 GRACE: [enthusiastically] Dad—give me a hand! [GRACE hurries to the foot of the steps and, like the others, lowers herself from the wheelchair to the first step. DAD moves the wheelchair aside, and MOM joins GRACE, cheering her on as she climbs. As GRACE reaches the top step, everyone around her cheers, not just for GRACE but for all of those who reach the top. [Blackout.] ACT II Setting: Four months later, in GRACE’s living room with sofa, side table, coffee table with notebooks and pens and calendars, and with the back of the television visible to the audience. GRACE’s wheelchair is nearby. [Lights come up on the living room. GRACE is seated on the sofa, chatting happily on a cordless phone.] 13 GRACE: [on the phone, scolding] Jennifer Keelan, you listen to me. You were the youngest person at the Capitol Crawl, and you made it all the way to the top—by yourself! Of course you’re allowed to protest in ANY city. [pauses to listen] Sure, I’ll come! My dad can drive me down, and we can meet at the Springfield town hall steps. I can’t believe they don’t have a ramp already. I mean, President Bush is supposed to sign the law today. What are they waiting for? [pauses to listen] So, after Springfield, we can go to Franklin and then Georgetown, and maybe we can squeeze in a crawl at Madison. I’m glad it’s July! There’s no way my mom would let me miss school for so many protests. 14 MOM: [enters, out of breath] Gracie, he’s on! He’s signing it! [She turns on the TV and we hear President George H. W. Bush at the signing ceremony for the Americans with Disabilities Act: “Welcome to every one of you out there in this splendid scene of hope spread across the South Lawn of the White House . . . ”] 15 GRACE: [into the phone] We did it, Jennifer! He’s signing it! But . . . Jennifer . . . ! Where is the closed captioning? The law says there’s supposed to be captioning for people who are deaf or hard of hearing! Did anyone actually read the law he’s signing? 16 MOM: [smiles and hands GRACE a pen] Here you go . . . . 17 GRACE: [sighs and picks up a notebook] If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Okay, Jennifer, which television broadcasting company do we want to write to first? We’ll tell them that the Americans with Disability Acts requires closed captioning. [lights fade to black as GRACE and Jennifer plan their letter-writing campaign] Multiple Choice Question Which phrase is MOST related to the theme that Grace embodies throughout the play? A. equality under the law B. courage and determination C . the power of youth to enact change D . frustration and helplessness

Answer 1

The phrase that is MOST related to the theme that Grace embodies throughout the play is C. the power of youth to enact change.

Throughout the play, Grace evolves from feeling frustrated and helpless to taking action and participating in protests that advocate for her rights and the rights of others with disabilities. Her determination to make a difference, especially as a young person, highlights the capacity of youth to instigate change in society.