WITHOUT LIMITS

Judy Heumann Honored at Conference

Judith Heumann, special adviser for international disability rights at the U.S. Department of State, recently received an award from Independence Care Systems (ICS) and United Spinal Association’s Women Without Limits “From Within” conference and workshop, held at ICS in Brooklyn.

Presented by Marilyn Saviola, director of advocacy at ICS, Heumann was honored for her efforts to improve the lives and health of women living with disabilities as well as her role in founding Disabled In Action and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Heumann, who was also the keynote speaker at the conference, addressed issues impacting women with disabilities.

She spoke of the 1950s and early 1960s when there were virtually no laws in place to protect the rights of the disabled. She discussed how getting a formal education was very challenging and that her own schooling as a child consisted of two-and-a-half hours a week of home instruction.

After age nine she was allowed to attend segregated schools and camps where she met other individuals with disabilities for the first time.

“As disabled women, we need to continue to speak out about what we are being denied,” said Heumann.

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