07/24/2026
You probably know Rosie the Riveter, but have you heard the story of the over 3 million workers with disabilities who helped win World War II on the home front?
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, American industries faced a massive labor shortage. Companies like Goodyear, Lockheed, and Boeing completely rethought how they hired, trained, and accommodated workers. This lead to a wave of incredible innovation and workplace accessibility.
From aviation companies hiring people with dwarfism to work in tight, confined aircraft spaces, to workers who were deaf using ASL to communicate across loud factory floors, over 80% of wartime industries hired workers with disabilities.
Watch this powerful Short from American Experience to uncover an undeniable chapter of American history.
๐ Watch the short here:
Did you know that an estimated 80% of WWII wartime industries integ...