Press Room
July marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and to celebrate this very special occasion, the Center for Jewish History is honored to host Being Heumann with Judy Heumann.
From fighting to attend grade school to winning a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license, Heumann’s actions throughout her life set a precedent that has fundamentally improved rights for people with disabilities, sparking a national movement that led to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The program will air live on Zoom on Wednesday, July 15th at 4 pm. "Judy Heumann is an American hero and I am honored that she has agreed to take part in this discussion,” said Lauren Gilbert, Senior Manager for Public Services. “While she is famous in her field, and the film Crip Camp has helped to spread the word about her achievements and contributions to American society, she deserves to be better known. She has played a crucial role in civil rights history."
Appointed by President Obama as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. Department of State, she recently participated in an interview with him for Crip Camp 2020, a virtual experience for grassroots activists and advocates (video available here). Now 72, Judy has written a memoir that serves as an important and inspiring “reminder of people’s power to change the world for the better.” (Booklist).