Judy Heumann: Mother of the Disability Rights Movement | International Day of Disabled Persons

Описание: Judy Heumann — the “Mother of the Disability Rights Movement” — reshaped what disability justice looks like in the United States and around the world.

This video honors her legacy for International Day of Disabled Persons and highlights the power of grassroots activism in San Francisco’s own disability rights history.

Judy’s fight began in New York City, where she sued the school system twice — once to attend public school and later to become a teacher — and won both cases. Her activism eventually brought her to the Bay Area, where she became a key leader in the historic 1977 504 Sit-In, the longest occupation of a federal building in US history. That action forced the government to finally enforce Section 504, the nation’s first disability rights law.

She went on to influence disability policy at the national and global levels, working with US presidential administrations, the State Department, the United Nations, and the World Bank — all while staying grounded in community organizing and the fight for dignity and access.

Judy was bold. She was strategic. She was unstoppable.

And her work continues through every new generation fighting for disability justice today. ♿️💜✨

👉 If you’d like to support disability culture and community programs in San Francisco, consider making a donation to the city’s new Disability Cultural Center. Your contribution helps sustain the work Judy fought for.

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