Tim Nugent is being remembered at the University of Illinois for his pioneering promotion of services for people with disabilities and for innovations that are used around the country.
Nugent died Wednesday morning at the age of 92. His death was confirmed by the U of I’s College of Applied Health Sciences.
Starting in the late 1940s, Nugent advocated for amenities that helped those with disabilities, including sidewalk curb cuts, and wheelchair- accessible buses.
Speaking to Illinois Public Radio in January, Nugent says he recognized early in his career that his students with disabilities also needed the same options for recreation as everyone else, which led to the founding of the U of I’s wheelchair athletics program.
“They needed a chance for activities with reciprocities, they needed a chance to give out their emotions, to get the satisfaction of participation. And actually our sports program turned out to be the best weapon we had so far as educating the public.”
Nugent helped start up the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, as well as wheelchair football, track, archery, and square dancing.