Being Heumann

What does Heumann’s story indicate about the importance of persistence in achieving results and changing the world? Who and what helped Judith stay persistent and continue to fight despite countless setbacks?

Judith devotes the entirety of Part 2 to a detailed recollection of the protests that forced the signing of the Rehabilitation Act in 1977. Why did Judith choose to focus so much attention on this one event? How did this event shape Judith’s future, her views of herself and the world, and the future of disability rights in the United States? 

Judith’s memoir recounts many shared experiences of achieving social justice in the realm of disability rights. She repeats throughout that none of it could have been possible if not for the community and collaboration that was prominent in what she calls a “disability culture” (23). How did this disability culture shape, inspire, and assist Judith in achieving results? How do these experiences illustrate The Power of Unity in Effecting Change?