The 7 Wonders of the World of Disabilities: Introduction

I decided that this article had to be made available on line so I am inputting it myself.  This is the intro and then I will follow with the 7 wonders, one per day.

This article is by Jan Carter Hollingsworth and Laura Apel 

and was featured in EP Exceptional Parent's Magazine Vol 38 Issue 11

I'm sure you saw the coverage in 2007-everywhere from USA today to National Geographic. The New 7 Wonders of the World organization announced a shiny new list of the worlds premier candidates.  (For more information visit www.new7wonders.com) A whopping 100 million global citizens cast their votes, naming their picks for the seven international representatives of historical human heritage.  What topped the list?  Rome's coliseum; Machu Picchu, the Amazon city in the clouds, India's Taj Mahal; the Mayan Temple city of Chichen Itza, Rio de Janeiro's monolithic, Christ the Redeemer, China's Great Wall and the Palace Tombs of Petra.

At Exceptional Parent magazine, we were intrigued and inspired by the new 7 wonders undertaking, and it started us thinking.  If we had to name the 7 Wonders of the World of Disabilities, what or who would they be? Would it be historical breakthroughs or would modern and still developing wonders rise like cream to the top of the list?  What events, legislation, people group, etc. have most significantly shaped, affected or defined the world of disabilities?  

During the past year, EP's editorial staff spent time talking with the disabilities field in narrowing down the list.  Choosing just seven was the greatest challenge.  Some "wonders" were chosen because they represent some of the earliest, most tangible vestiges of the concept or idea (often times he precursor or path-paver for much of the technology and services on which we depend today) and others because of the promise they hold for future generations.  The 7 Wonders of the World of Disabilities are presented as a group with no ranking.  Do you have thoughts and comments about our top seven picks? Let us know by emailing to jhollingsworth@eparent.com.