Judy Heumann, “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement”, Passes Away at Age 75

Renowned disability rights leader and activist Judy Heumann passed away on Saturday at the age of 75. Heumann was known as the “mother of the disability rights movement” for her instrumental work in pushing for historic legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act.

Heumann was born in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 2, she contracted polio, which resulted in her losing her ability to walk and spending several months in an iron lung. At the age of 5, she was denied the right to attend school because she was considered a “fire hazard.”

Heumann spent the rest of her life fighting for disability rights. She was a prominent figure in the disability rights movement and was a leader in the fight for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She also worked to ensure that disabled people had access to education, employment, and transportation.

Heumann was a vocal advocate for the rights of disabled people and was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. She was also the author of the book “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.”

Heumann’s death is a great loss to the disability rights movement. Her legacy will live on in the lives of disabled people who have benefited from her tireless advocacy and activism.