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

Summary

In a powerful address, a lifelong advocate for disability rights shares her journey from childhood polio survivor to diplomat. She recounts early discrimination, such as inaccessible schools and the struggle to earn her teaching license, highlighting systemic barriers faced by disabled individuals. Inspired by the civil rights movement, she emphasizes the importance of advocacy and collective action in the disability rights movement, culminating in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The speaker calls for continued efforts to combat discrimination globally, urging individuals to recognize disability as a universal experience that requires solidarity and action to create lasting change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, a disabled woman, shares her lifelong commitment to fighting for disability rights, emphasizing the shared challenges faced by disabled individuals worldwide.
• 👩‍🏫 Born in 1947, she contracted polio at 18 months old, leading to significant medical and social challenges, including lengthy hospitalizations and societal discrimination.
• 🏫 During her early education, the speaker was denied access to a local school due to inaccessibility and received minimal education at home, illustrating systemic barriers to education for disabled children.
• 💪 The speaker's parents played a crucial role in advocating for her rights, pushing for accessible high schools in New York City when they discovered none were available.
• 📚 After overcoming obstacles in her education, including a discriminatory medical exam, she successfully obtained her teaching license with the support of allies and media coverage.
• 🚫 The speaker highlights the importance of being one's own advocate and challenges the perception that disabled individuals need to be cured to achieve equality.
• ✊ The disability rights movement emerged as a response to systemic discrimination, learning from the strategies of the civil rights and women’s rights movements.
• 📜 Key legislative achievements, such as the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), demonstrate the impact of advocacy on securing rights for disabled individuals.
• 🌍 The speaker addresses global issues, including violence against disabled individuals and the need for international legal protections, urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• 📝 In closing, the speaker encourages everyone to recognize their potential to advocate for change, highlighting that disability is a shared human experience and calling for collective action against discrimination.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to fight for disability rights?

The speaker's lifelong experiences with discrimination and the challenges faced by disabled individuals inspired her to advocate for disability rights.

What significant health issue did the speaker face in her early childhood?

The speaker contracted polio at 18 months old during one of the last epidemics in the United States, resulting in her using a wheelchair.

How did the speaker's parents respond to the challenges she faced regarding education?

Her parents banded together with other parents to demand that the Board of Education make high schools wheelchair accessible, allowing her and others to attend regular schools.

What barriers did the speaker encounter while pursuing her teaching license?

The speaker faced accessibility issues for her exams and was denied her teaching license due to her disability, specifically the inability to walk.

How did media coverage impact the speaker's fight for her teaching license?

A New York Times editorial supported her cause, which led to a re-examination and eventually allowed her to obtain her teaching license.

What is the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

The ADA is considered a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures their access to public spaces and services.

What was a notable demonstration led by disabled individuals in the 1970s?

Disabled individuals crawled up the Capitol Steps to advocate for the passage of the ADA, showcasing their determination to fight for equal rights.

What are some of the current challenges faced by disabled individuals globally?

Many disabled individuals worldwide experience violence, limited opportunities, and inadequate support, with particular concerns for women and vulnerable populations.

What call to action does the speaker make regarding the U.S. Senate?

The speaker urges the U.S. Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to lead in advocating for disabled people's rights internationally.

What personal experience does the speaker encourage the audience to reflect on?

She encourages the audience to write about their own experiences with temporary disabilities, such as breaking a bone, to foster understanding and empathy towards disabled individuals.