Judy Heumann, a pioneering disability rights activist and advocate, passed away on December 7th, 2020 at the age of 75. She dedicated her life to ensuring the disabled community had access to the same rights and privileges as everyone else.
Heumann was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945. She contracted polio at the age of 18 months and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Despite this, she was determined to live life to the fullest and persevered to achieve her dreams.
Heumann was an advocate for disability rights since her teenage years. In the late 1960s, she organized protests in New York City with other disabled people to demand access to the city’s public transportation system. She then moved to Berkeley, California, and became involved in the disability rights movement. In 1970, she co-founded the Berkeley-based Center for Independent Living.
Heumann was an influential force in the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. She also worked with members of Congress to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. This landmark civil rights legislation prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
Heumann’s legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come. She was a fierce advocate for the disabled community and her work has helped to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Her advocacy and activism have been an inspiration to people with disabilities around the world.
Heumann’s passing is a great loss to the disability rights movement. She will be remembered as a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and her legacy will live on. Judy Heumann will remain in our hearts and minds as a champion of the disabled community.