The Vietnam War ignited a disability rights revolution that blazed across North America.

Veterans stormed back demanding access and equality, forever reshaping history. Today, we witness that same fierce determination fuelling the explosive USA-Canada para ice hockey rivalry.

TAIT: Long history behind para sports, and Canada-USA rivalry Back to video

Can you imagine Sunday’s gold-medal showdown existing without their initial fight?

Before the 1960s, society trapped disability in a “medical model” — something to fix or hide away.

The Vietnam War shattered this thinking completely.

Unlike civilians who faced crushing stigma, veterans rolled home as national heroes.

Picture this: when a decorated veteran in a wheelchair couldn’t enter a library or secure employment because of stairs, public outrage erupted like wildfire.

These battle-hardened veterans returned disillusioned but armed with protest tactics that could move mountains. They joined forces with existing firebrands like Ed Roberts and the revolutionary “Rolling Quads” at UC Berkeley, demanding nothing less than “Independent Living.”

TAIT: Canada advances to gold medal game after tight victory over China in Paralympic hockey

TAIT: Edmonton Paralympian prepares for........

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