By Clayton Porter
When we talk about the pioneers of the disability rights movement, names like Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, and Justin Dart often come to mind. Their work helped change laws, challenge discrimination, and establish many of the rights people with disabilities have today. But there were others working toward those same goals whose names aren’t nearly as familiar, even though their contributions were equally important.
One of those people was Harold H. Wilke, a Missouri-born minister, author, and disability rights advocate who spent much of his life challenging the way society treated people with disabilities. Born without arms in 1914, Harold grew up during a time when opportunities for people with disabilities were extremely limited. He eventually became a nationally recognized advocate, helping change attitudes within religious institutions and contributing to the movement that led to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I wanted to share Harold’s story because I believe he deserves to be remembered alongside the better-known leaders of the disability rights movement. I also have a personal connection to Harold that has stayed with me throughout my life, and it’s one of the reasons his work means so much to me.
Growing Up With a Disability in Missouri
Harold Henry Wilke was born on December 10, 1914, in Washington, Missouri, and grew up on a farm. Being born without arms meant he had to learn different ways of accomplishing everyday tasks, but some of the greatest obstacles he encountered came from the attitudes of others. When he was old enough to attend school, his local school refused to admit him because administrators believed his disability would distract the other students. Rather than accept being denied an education, Harold attended another school several miles away.
He eventually graduated from Washington High School and continued his education at the University of Missouri, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1937. He later attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1939, and earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Andover Newton Theological School in 1943. These accomplishments were particularly significant during a period when people with disabilities were routinely discouraged from pursuing higher education or professional careers.
A Minister Who Challenged the Church
Harold felt called to the ministry, but even the church had difficulty looking beyond his disability. Leaders within the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which later became part of the United Church of Christ, initially resisted his ordination because they questioned whether someone without arms could fulfill the responsibilities of a minister. Harold challenged those assumptions and was ordained in 1939.
His early ministry included work at the University of Missouri and service as a hospital chaplain. During World War II, he worked in Protestant chaplain services and counseled veterans with disabilities. Those experiences reinforced his belief that people with disabilities needed more than medical treatment or sympathy. They needed opportunities to participate in their communities, pursue meaningful work, and make decisions about their own lives.
Harold also recognized that religious institutions were not always as welcoming as they believed themselves to be. Churches might speak about accepting everyone while maintaining buildings that people with mobility disabilities couldn’t enter or treating members with disabilities as people to be helped rather than individuals who could contribute. He spent years encouraging congregations to reconsider those attitudes and become more inclusive.
Making Accessibility Part of Community Life
In 1975, Harold established the Healing Community Project to help churches become more accessible and inclusive. His efforts addressed physical barriers such as stairs and inaccessible facilities, but he also believed that changing attitudes was essential. People with disabilities should have opportunities to worship, teach, volunteer, lead, and participate in religious life just like anyone else.
He encouraged churches to reconsider language and practices that reinforced negative assumptions about disability. His message was that accessibility involved more than making accommodations. It required recognizing people with disabilities as equal members of the community, with their own abilities, experiences, and contributions.
Harold carried that philosophy into his national advocacy. As a founding director of the National Organization on Disability, he worked to increase public awareness and expand opportunities for people with disabilities. He also supported efforts to address discrimination in employment and public life, becoming part of the broader movement that helped bring about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
A Memorable Moment at the Signing of the ADA
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. The legislation established important federal protections against disability discrimination and represented decades of work by advocates throughout the country.
Harold was invited to participate in the White House ceremony and delivered the invocation. Following the signing, President Bush presented him with one of the pens used to sign the legislation. Because Harold had been born without arms, he accepted the pen with his toes. Photographs of that exchange became part of the historical record of the ADA signing.
It was a meaningful moment for someone who had spent his life demonstrating that disability did not determine a person’s value or ability to contribute. Harold had learned to accomplish everyday activities in his own way, and he understood that many of the limitations people with disabilities encountered came from inaccessible environments and the expectations of others. Although the ADA represented an enormous step forward, Harold understood that legislation alone couldn’t eliminate discrimination. Schools, employers, religious institutions, and communities still had to put those principles into practice.
A Family Man With a Sense of Humor
Beyond his ministry and public advocacy, Harold was a husband, father, and author. He and his wife, Peg, raised five sons, and he was remembered by those who knew him for his warmth, humor, and practical approach to life.
Having lived without arms since birth, Harold developed his own methods for writing, eating, dressing, and handling other everyday activities. He was comfortable talking about those differences and occasionally used humor to put others at ease. He once joked that his clothing was sewn together so he could slip into it like a snake.
Harold also wrote several books about faith, disability, and community life, including Greet the Man (1945), Strengthened with Might (1952), Creating the Caring Congregation (1980), and Angels on My Shoulders and Muses at My Side (1995). His writing reflected his belief that communities should recognize the abilities and contributions of people with disabilities rather than focus on perceived limitations.
Harold died on February 25, 2003, in Pomona, California, at the age of 88. By then, he had spent more than six decades advocating for accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities.
Why Harold Wilke’s Legacy Matters
When we look back at the disability rights movement, it’s natural to focus on landmark legislation, national organizations, and the advocates whose names appear most often in history books. But much of the progress we’ve made came from people who worked for years to change attitudes in their own communities, often long before disability rights became a national conversation.
Harold was one of those people. He helped religious institutions become more inclusive, encouraged the use of respectful language, and supported the broader movement for disability rights. His work reflected principles that remain central to the independent living movement and organizations like The Whole Person today. Although the country has made considerable progress since Harold began his ministry, people with disabilities continue to encounter barriers involving employment, transportation, housing, healthcare, and participation in everyday community life.
What I find especially meaningful about Harold’s life is that his advocacy extended beyond public appearances, legislation, and organizational leadership. He also took the time to help individual families who were struggling with decisions about raising children with disabilities. My family was among those he reached out to, and his involvement influenced the direction of my life in ways that I still appreciate today.
A Personal Note From Clayton Porter
My own life was significantly influenced by Harold’s selfless efforts. During the 1950s and the years that followed, thousands of children around the world were born with birth differences, some associated with medications given to pregnant women. At that time, certain medications were distributed as samples, and their use was not always documented in patient records. Families were often left with little information about what had happened or what the future might hold for their children.
Harold personally reached out to families affected by these circumstances, including mine. Initially, my parents were considering placing me in an institution. Harold offered his assistance, and through his guidance, advocacy, and encouragement, my parents chose to keep me at home and raise me as part of our family.
I have often thought about how different my life might have been without Harold’s involvement. His willingness to reach out and help my parents during a difficult time had an influence on my life that is difficult to measure. And as for the rest of the story, that’s one for another day…
Respectfully submitted,
Clayton Porter
