Judith Heumann was born in Philadelphia in 1947. Her parents were both German-Jewish immigrants to the U.S. Virtually all of her family who remained in Germany died during the Nazi Holocaust. At age 18 months, she was inflicted with polio and for the rest of her life she used a wheelbarrow.
Growing up in Brooklyn, the local school system declared her a fire hazard and would not allow her to attend school. The schools provided what was considered an equivalent education by providing one hour of home instruction twice a week. She was finally able to go to regular schools when she entered the fourth grade.
With the challenges that she faced and her family tragedy, many people would have lived a life filled with grievance, but for Judith, her life challenge helped give her purpose.
Judith was able to continue her education and earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Health. While in college, she began to become an activist for people with disabilities. With her degree, she was refused a teaching position in New York, again because she was thought to be a fire hazard. The local newspaper featured her story with the headline: “You Can Be President, Not Teacher With Polio”. The school board was forced to change its policy once Judith’s story became publicized.
The press attention led to mail from across the country with similar stories. The letters inspired Judith to become more involved in an effort to win rights for people with disabilities. Congress passed the Rehabilitation Acts of 1972 and 1973, but both were vetoed by President Nixon. The legislation was revised and later became a national policy.
Subsequently, Judith became engaged in the movement for independent living. This was the first of many activist efforts to expand the rights of those with disabilities. She worked both within and in opposition to national policymakers to make it easier for people with disabilities to live their lives.
Over time, Judith’s efforts took on a world stage when she served as an advisor to the World Bank. She encouraged the World Bank to use its leverage to promote disability rights.
Throughout her career, she encountered resistance in her efforts to support basic rights for those with disabilities. But despite this, she persevered, sometimes with very visible experiences of outrage at those who opposed the causes that she supported.
Judith passed away in 2023 at age 75. She left a legacy for others to follow in advocating for what’s right. For all of her efforts, she is considered today as the mother of the disability rights movement.
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“My disability is that I cannot use my legs. My handicap is your negative perception of that disability, and thus of me.” – Rick Hansen (paralympic athlete)