In Memoriam
On March 4th, Judy Heumann, lifelong leader disability rights advocate, passed away. The following is an excerpt from a tribute written by the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD):
Judy’s life story is well documented by herself and others. Judy participated in the developing and implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Judy was also active in advocating at the local level, and this February provided moving and heartfelt testimony urging the D.C. Council to ensure wheelchair accessible taxi and rideshare service. In recent years, Judy testified to the U.S. Department of Transportation demanding safe and equitable access to air travel and supporting the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act.
Judy’s time as a counselor at Camp Jened, a summer camp for disabled youth, and the lives of fellow counselors and attendees is the subject of the award-winning documentary, Crip Camp. Judy hosted a podcast, The Huemann Perspective, and published her memoir, Being Huemann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist and a Young Adult version, Rolling Warrior.
Judy devoted her life to disability rights, and was a friend, agitator and advocate until the very end.
Encourage confidence to act