Even as we mourn the loss of Judith “Judy” Heumann—one of the most impactful pioneers for the rights of people with disabilities in this country—it is humbling and a privilege to remember and celebrate her life and work.

In 1970, Heumann was denied a teaching position in New York City public schools due solely to her physical disability. She successfully sued the city, and since then has been at the forefront of the national movement to expand rights and access for people with disabilities. 

Heumann’s list of accomplishments is many. She helped found the famed Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, California, and served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations. She helped advocate for every significant piece of disability rights legislation passed in the United States, and helped ensure that rights for people with disabilities were cemented on the national level. 

If you’re able, take time today to read a remembrance (link in bio) of her life and work, which has been a light in the lives of so many people. 

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[image description: a black and white photo showing Judy Heumann as a young woman. She sits in a wheelchair on an outdoor stage and speaks into a microphone. She wears a winter coat with a button on it that says “Sign 504”]