This memoir uncovers the largely unwritten 20th-century history of Wisconsin’s organized movement to secure the rights of people with physical disabilities. Authors Wahner and Logan faithfully trace the work of strong leaders like Ellen Daly, Dan Johnson, and Edith Simons. They, and many other “giants,” blazed trails of change and reform. 

As a result, Wisconsin emerged as a national leader in advancing community-based, independence-promoting, rights-based systemic and sustainable reform—long before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. In an era hungry for heroes and role models, many are found

in this carefully researched book.  

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, 
committed citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

- Margaret Mead

About the Authors

James W. “Jim” Wahner is a former Wisconsin Legislative Leader, Human Services administrator, and private sector Health Care Executive, who led Wisconsin to prominence on disability policy during the 1970s. In 1979 he left his post as Assembly Majority Leader to accept a Carter Administration appointment as Midwest Regional Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Chicago.

After the Carter years, Jim returned to Wisconsin and accepted the Directorship of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services from 1981 to 1988, then served for 15 years as a Vice President for a large, Milwaukee-based healthcare company. Jim lives with his wife Dorothy in Verona, Wisconsin.