She was deemed a “fire hazard"
Five year old Judith Heumann, had been in a wheelchair since she contracted Polio at the age of 2. Her school deemed her a fire hazard and refused to let her attend. This sparked her journey to advocate for increased accessibility and rights.
Judith became the first teacher in New York to use a wheelchair (after successfully suing the Board of Education). She paved the way for others with the need for greater accessibility.
Judy was widely regarded as “the mother” of the disability rights movement. Her story is a beautiful reminder that ordinary people can and do change the world.
https://judithheumann.com/