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waiting for summer Judy Heumann, a legend of #disability activism, passed away yesterday at the age of 75.
After being excluded in public education as a child for post polio disabilities, she successfully fought the city of New York in 1970 for her teacher's license & became the first teacher in a wheelchair in NYC.
Because of the support she received during that trial, she would go on to found Disability In Action, a civil rights organization for the disabled. The protest actions she helped organize ... 1/
... would be influential in the formation of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which all grant civil rights to disabled Americans.
She was also the director of the Center of Independent Living for 7 years and was an early adopter of the Independent Living Movement, a philosophy of living that grants self determination and equal opportunity to the disabled. 2/
@jenigrant@triangletoot.partyShe would go on to serve as the first Director for the federal Department of Disability Services, secretary to President Clinton and advisor to President Obama & advisor to the World Bank, among others.
The (excellent) Oscar nominated documentary, Crip Camp, features Judy Heumann and talks about the genesis of the modern disability rights movement.
As a disabled activist, I owe a lot to her. So tonight I will say her name. Long may her memory last. #JudithHeumann #Disability #Activism 3/3