Description

A story of fighting to belong in a world that wasn’t built for all of us and of one woman’s activism–from the streets of Brooklyn and San Francisco to inside the halls of Washington–Being Heumann recounts Judy Heumann’s lifelong battle to achieve respect, acceptance, and inclusion in society.

Paralyzed from polio at eighteen months, Judy Heumann began her struggle for equality early in life. From fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” to later winning a lawsuit against the New York City school system for denying her a teacher’s license, to leading the section 504 sit-in that led to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Judy’s actions set a precedent that fundamentally improved rights for disabled people around the globe.

Candid, intimate, and irreverent, Judy Heumann’s memoir about resistance to exclusion invites readers to imagine and make real a world in which we all belong.

Publisher Review

Judy's advocacy for disability rights began as a fight for her own future and then, as a leader of the movement, spanned the nation and the globe. * Hillary Clinton * Judy's story has shaken me to the core. For the first time, I see myself in someone else. Her fierce advocacy and work changing the laws around disability rights have undeniably paved the way for me to achieve what I have today. . . . A must-read. * Ali Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress * A marvelous memoir by a disability hero who has paved the way for many of us. Full of fascinating stories from the disability rights movement, this book will guide future leaders as we work toward a barrier-free world. * Haben Girma, author of the bestseller Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law *