Judy Heumann - The Mother of the Disability Rights Movement

It’s Women’s History Month and I want to highlight Judy Heumann; a significant disabled activist who recently passed away on March 4th. Much of the access disabled people have today is because of Judy’s work that began in the 70s. We both talked about one day meeting, so I’m sad to have missed such an opportunity. Whenever I’m feeling bleh, I like to express myself creatively so I sliced and diced some clips, photos and quotes for this reel. Take 4 minutes to watch and get a sense of Judy’s tenacious spirit.
As a child, Judy recognized the immorality of school segregation. She wasn’t allowed to go to school just because of her disability born from polio. Even as a child, her firm sense of self told her the lack of equity for disabled people was inhumane. This spirit followed her when she sued NYC for not allowing her to be a teacher just because she was disabled. She won.
Judy, fondly known as the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement”, was part of and helped lead the first disability movement, from the historic 1977 Section 504 occupation of federal buildings by disabled people for 25 days that she helped organize, to the signing of the ADA. She served as the World Bank’s Advisor on Disability & Development, Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Ed and Rehabilitative Services for the Clinton Admin, and Special Advisor for the International Disability Rights for the Obama Admin. She authored two memoirs and a list of other contributions. (Do watch the Netflix documentary Crip Camp to learn more about Judy and the American Disability Rights movement)
You went into history during women’s history month. Thank you for everything you were and did. We shall continue.
-----
*I’m a Korean American ♿️ traveler, artist, writer, advocate, industrial desigber and an adoptee.
For more #KamsWheelsTravel, disability and accessibility musings and mini-memoirs, follow kamredlawsk
Kamredkawsk.com
Facebook.com/kamredlawsk
Twitter, Tiktok & LinkedIn @ kamredlawsk