Judy Heumann Death sent shockwaves across her loved ones. Judy Heumann, a well-known activist who supported laws defending the rights of individuals with disabilities, passed away at the age of 75.
Her death was announced on her website and social media sites on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Her youngest brother, Rick Heumann, confirmed the news to The Associated Press. So, what caused Judy Heumann Death? Let’s find out by reading on.
Judy Heumann Death: How Did She Die?
Rick Heumann stated that she had been in the hospital for a week and that she may have had post-polio syndrome as a result of a childhood sickness that was so severe that she spent many months in an iron lung and lost her ability to walk at the age of two.
According to her brother, she fought for the remainder of her life, first to gain access for herself and subsequently for others.
“That had absolutely nothing to do with my sister’s glory or anything similar. It was always about how she could improve things for others “He said, adding that the condolences from dignitaries and former presidents like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama that flooded in on Twitter provided comfort to the family.
A tweet from former President Barack Obama in tribute to Judy Heumann.
Judy Heumann dedicated her life to the fight for civil rights—starting as a young organizer at Camp Jened and later helping lead the disability rights movement. Michelle and I were fortunate to work with Judy over the years, and are thinking of her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/ODXtMMWfnV
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 5, 2023
President Joe Biden Remembered Working With Judy Heumann
President Joe Biden recalled working with Heumann, whom he referred to as a “trailblazer,” to fight for the rights of people with disabilities.
In a statement, President Biden praised Judy Heumann as “a trailblazer and a rolling warrior” for American citizens with disabilities. “Judy dedicated the remainder of her life to fighting for the intrinsic dignity of persons with disabilities after her school principal told her she couldn’t enter kindergarten because she was using a wheelchair.
According to her website, Heumann has earned the moniker “mother of the disability rights movement” for her decades-long support of those with disabilities through demonstrations and legal action.
She advocated for legislation that ultimately resulted in the federal Rehabilitation Act, People with Disabilities Education Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. From 1993 under the Clinton administration until 2001, she worked as the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services’ assistant secretary in the United States.
Asserting that Heumann “also served in leadership positions in two presidential administrations, and she started multiple disability advocacy organizations that continue to benefit people here and around the world,” Mr. Biden described those pieces of legislation as “landmark achievements that increased access for people with disabilities to education, the workplace, housing, and more.”
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities was passed with Heumann’s assistance and approved in May 2008.
According to her website, she served on the boards of several related organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Humanity and Inclusion, and the United States International Council on Disability. She also contributed to the founding of the Berkley Center for Independent Living, the Independent Living Movement, and the World Institute on Disability.
Must Check:
- Alex Murdaugh Net Worth: His Education And Beginnings
- Alex Murdaugh Conviction: How His Son Ensured This and helped Solve His Murder Case
Judy Heumann Biography
Heumann, who was born in Philadelphia in 1947 and was raised in New York City, co-wrote “Being Heumann,” a biography, and “Rolling Warrior,” a young adult adaptation.
Her book describes the difficulties her parents—German Jews who fled Germany before the Holocaust—faced in trying to enroll their daughter in school. Children with impairments were seen negatively both economically and socially, she claimed.
Rick Heumann claimed that originally, his “bulldog” mother had to teach his sister at home. The parents and their kids still have strong feelings about leaving Nazi Germany. He declared, “We firmly think that discrimination is unacceptable in every way, shape, and form.
After finishing high school, Judy Heumann went on to graduate from Long Island University with a bachelor’s degree and get a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley.
According to Maria Town, president, and chief executive officer of the American Association of Persons with Disabilities, it was revolutionary at the time, demonstrating exactly how much has changed.
“Now the expectation for children with disabilities is that we will be included in mainstream education, that we will have the opportunity to go to high school, to go to college, and to acquire those degrees,” Town stated while noting that disparities still exist. But I believe that the primary assumption has changed, and I also believe that Judy played a huge influence, is a pretty big matter.
Read More:
- Mark Hamill Net Worth: How Much He Earned From Star Wars?
- Angela Yee Net Worth: What Is Her Annual Salary?
You can bookmark our website trendingnews.org for more such articles and the latest updates.
Contents
