Our fight for disability rights -- and why we're not done yet | Judith Heumann

Summary

In this powerful TED Talk, disability rights advocate Judith Heumann shares her journey from childhood polio to becoming a teacher and activist. She recounts the discrimination she faced in education and her fight for accessibility, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and community support. Heumann highlights significant milestones in the Disability Rights Movement, including the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. With a call to action, she encourages everyone to recognize disability as a shared human experience and work together to challenge discrimination and promote justice for disabled individuals worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker experienced polio at 18 months, spending significant time in hospitals and facing societal fears of disability.
• 😔 Early experiences highlighted societal discrimination and the lack of accessible education for disabled children.
• 🏫 The speaker's parents fought for accessible schooling, leading to significant changes in educational policies for disabled students.
• 📚 After college, the speaker faced further discrimination when denied a teaching license due to a medical exam's accessibility issues.
• ⚖️ The speaker successfully challenged the Board of Education with media support, emphasizing the importance of advocacy.
• 👩‍⚖️ An important court case led by a notable judge resulted in the speaker obtaining a teaching license.
• ✊ The speaker emphasizes the role of self-advocacy in the Disability Rights Movement, learning from other civil rights movements.
• 🚌 Protests and demonstrations played a crucial role in advancing disability rights legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• 🌍 The speaker discusses the ongoing need for global disability rights and the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• 💪 The speaker encourages everyone to recognize disability as a universal experience and advocates for collective action to fight discrimination.

Q & A

What significant health challenge did the speaker face during childhood?

The speaker contracted polio at 18 months old, which resulted in being placed in an iron lung for three months and frequent hospital visits for three years.

How did the community respond to the speaker's family's situation?

Some neighbors were supportive, while others were fearful of contagion and avoided the family, illustrating the stigma associated with disability.

What was the educational experience of the speaker during early childhood?

The speaker was unable to attend a physically accessible school until the age of nine, receiving limited home instruction instead.

How did the speaker's parents advocate for their education?

The speaker's parents organized with other parents to demand accessible high schools from the Board of Education, which ultimately led to improved access.

What challenges did the speaker face when trying to obtain a teaching license?

The speaker encountered inaccessible exam locations and faced discriminatory practices, including being failed for a medical exam due to paralysis from polio.

How did the speaker ultimately gain their teaching license?

After gaining media attention from a 'New York Times' editorial and receiving legal support, the speaker was encouraged to take another medical exam, which led to obtaining their teaching license.

What does the speaker highlight as important lessons learned during their journey?

The speaker emphasizes the need for self-advocacy and the importance of recognizing and fighting discrimination.

What historical context does the speaker provide regarding disability rights?

The speaker references the influence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Rights Movement on the emergence of the Disability Rights Movement.

What significant legislative achievements does the speaker mention?

The speaker discusses the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), highlighting the activism that led to their passage.

What issues do disabled people face globally, according to the speaker?

The speaker describes systemic discrimination, violence, inadequate job opportunities, and poor living conditions for disabled individuals in many countries.