Remembering Judith “Judy” Heumann, Z"L
JDIN advisory board members remember the mother of the disability rights movement
Our Advisory Board shares reflections on the life and legacy of disability activist and hero, Judy Heumann, z’l:
Judy Heumann was a legend, and also very down to earth. Her network was broad, extending outside the United States, and in many ways she was a connector most of all. She made many “keshers” including for me here in Canada.
Strong, direct, caring, and fierce – she was a role model for me and for so many others. Unapologetic and celebratory in all of her identity as a Jewish, disabled, activist woman, she showed us how we could use our full selves to make change, and then helped us connect to and find others who can make it with us.
Her life was a blessing and her memory will be an enduring blessing.
Liv Mendelsohn,
Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence
Matan was privileged to honor Judy at our annual event in 2022; I was even more privileged because I got to present Judy with her award. It was my first time meeting her, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was starstruck! I felt like the entire history of disability inclusion efforts was sitting in front of me, and I was acutely aware that my career could not have even existed without Judy's efforts. Filming her part for our event took a while - she answered every phone call (and there were many!) because every person held importance to her. I came to understand that this was an essential part of who Judy was. She truly cared, whether she had ever met you or not, and she was at the ready to help solve every inclusion injustice.
Meredith Polsky,
Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships, Matan
We at the National Ramah Tikvah Network are delighted that Judy agreed to speak with our families of children with disabilities and the entire Ramah community on Zoom during the pandemic. Judy always challenged us to go one step further–even though we have been offering inclusive camping at Ramah since in 1970, she pushed us. A parent on the Zoom asked, “How do we give the typical campers (at Ramah camps) a Tikvah (disabilities inclusion) experience if there is no camp this summer?” [He was acknowledging the important reality that campers and staff would be denied the important opportunity to meaningfully interact in person with campers with disabilities from the Tikvah inclusion program].
Without missing a beat, Judy suggested that our synagogues and Jewish communal institutions mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! Read more here.
Howard Blas,
Director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network of the National Ramah Commission
On Saturday, March 4, Judy Heumann, a legendary changemaker and advocate for disability rights, passed away after a brief time in the hospital. Judy's website shared the news of her passing and highlights of her life's work: "Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, held senior federal government positions, co-authored her memoir, Being Heumann, and its Young Adult version, Rolling Warrior, and was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution."
Judy was fighting for disability inclusion right until the end. Just a few weeks ago, she did a webinar with RespectAbility to kick off Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month. This is an excerpt from that webinar in which Judy read a passage from "Being Heumann." We mourn Judy's passing, and keep her family, friends, and the rest of the disability community in our thoughts. We won't stop until the world she envisioned becomes a reality. May her memory be a blessing.
From Shelly Christensen and colleagues at RespectAbility.
Shelly serves as Director of Faith Inclusion.
For more information on the life and legacy of Judy Heumann, visit her legacy site.