I had the honor and privilege to interview Judy a few years ago. This will probably be the most famous disabled individual I’ll ever get to interview. With her resent passing, I will always cherish the few moments I got to ask her about her book, “Being Heumann”. I highly recommend you read my summary of it and the book itself. If I can accomplish half as much as she did in helping the disability movement in America, I would be proud. Here is a summary of her life. It goes into greater detail in her book.
Judy Heumann was an American disability rights activist who has dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of people with disabilities. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, and was diagnosed with polio at the age of 18 months. Polio is a viral disease that can cause paralysis, and it affected both of Heumann’s legs. As a result, she was unable to walk and had to use a wheelchair.
Heumann’s parents were determined to give her the best possible life, despite her disability. They enrolled her in a school for children with disabilities, where she received a good education and learned how to live independently. However, Heumann soon realized that the wider world was not as accepting of people with disabilities.
As a child, Heumann experienced discrimination and exclusion daily. She was not allowed to attend her local school because it was not accessible to wheelchair users, and she was often refused entry to shops, restaurants, and other public places. This was a common experience for people with disabilities at the time, as there were few laws or regulations in place to protect their rights.
Heumann was determined to fight back against this discrimination. She became involved in the disability rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s and was a leading figure in the fight for disability rights in America.
One of Heumann’s major accomplishments was her work on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs and activities that receive federal funding. It was a major victory for the disability rights movement and paved the way for further legislation to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Heumann’s advocacy also led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. This law prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, and other areas of life. The ADA has been described as the most important civil rights law since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and has made a huge difference in the lives of people with disabilities in America.
In addition to her work on legislation, Heumann was also involved in numerous other efforts to promote disability rights. She co-founded the World Institute on Disability, an organization that works to improve the lives of people with disabilities around the world. She also served on numerous government committees and advisory boards, and was a leading voice in the disability community for decades.
Heumann’s advocacy did not gone unnoticed. In 2010, she was appointed by President Barack Obama as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she worked to promote the rights of people with disabilities around the world, and helped to ensure that disability issues were included in U.S. foreign policy.
Heumann also received numerous awards and honors for her work. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. This award recognized her “lifelong commitment to building a more inclusive world.”
In conclusion, Judy Heumann’s life has been an inspiration to people with disabilities around the world. Her dedication to the fight for disability rights has led to significant progress in America and beyond and has helped to improve the lives of countless people. Her story is a testament to the power of advocacy and the importance of fighting for what is right.
