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Rolling Warrior: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Story of a Rebel Girl on Wheels Who Helped Spark a Revolution
As featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp, and forreaders of I Am Malala, one of the most influential disability rightsactivists in US history tells her story of fighting to belong.
"If I didn't fight, who would?"
Judy Heumann was only 5 years old when she was first denied her right to attend school. Paralyzed from polio and raised by her Holocaust-surviving parents in New York City, Judy had a drive for equality that was instilled early in life.
In this young readers' edition of her acclaimed memoir, Being Heumann, Judy shares her journey of battling for equal access in an unequal world--from fighting to attend grade school after being described as a "fire hazard" because of her wheelchair, to suing the New York City school system for denying her a teacher's license because of her disability. Judy went on to lead 150 disabled people in the longest sit-in protest in US history at the San Francisco Federal Building. Cut off from the outside world, the group slept on office floors, faced down bomb threats, and risked their lives to win the world's attention and the first civil rights legislation for disabled people.
Judy's bravery, persistence, and signature rebellious streak will speak to every person fighting to belong and fighting for social justice.
"If I didn't fight, who would?"
Judy Heumann was only 5 years old when she was first denied her right to attend school. Paralyzed from polio and raised by her Holocaust-surviving parents in New York City, Judy had a drive for equality that was instilled early in life.
In this young readers' edition of her acclaimed memoir, Being Heumann, Judy shares her journey of battling for equal access in an unequal world--from fighting to attend grade school after being described as a "fire hazard" because of her wheelchair, to suing the New York City school system for denying her a teacher's license because of her disability. Judy went on to lead 150 disabled people in the longest sit-in protest in US history at the San Francisco Federal Building. Cut off from the outside world, the group slept on office floors, faced down bomb threats, and risked their lives to win the world's attention and the first civil rights legislation for disabled people.
Judy's bravery, persistence, and signature rebellious streak will speak to every person fighting to belong and fighting for social justice.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
March 19, 2023
*For a memoir like this that is incredibly personal about the author's life story I won't be rating it on her life story {if I thought it was interesting what I did or didn't like}. [For a fictional book I normally judge it on the story of the characters, progression of the plot, characters, and my enjoyment level.]*
"Our disabilities weren't medical problems that we were going to "fix." Our problem was with the society. From our perspective, disability was something that could happen to anyone at any time, and frequently did, so it was the right thing for society to expect it and design for it."
-Judith Heumann
Learning about Judith Heumann's story opened my eyes to problems existing in our society. Reading her memoir was really important for me to better understand what it's like to be disabled. The points she made about how their disabilities weren't a "sickness" and weren't something to "fix" were such a powerful point in this memoir. She starts by using her experiences as a child as a springboard into her journey to spark a revolution that would lead to change.
Seeing how she struggled when some places in the world weren't designed for people like her in wheelchairs really got me thinking more about this topic. It's sad to see that even today, people are all still fighting for equality that we have yet to fully reach. I liked Judith Heumann's narration, despite it being a bit stilted at times. I could feel the fire within her, the anger she had every right to feel. It was inspiring to see her and her allies achieve Section 504 approval through words and actions rather than physical violence. The struggle for equality is something that shouldn't be as hard as it is, but unfortunately, it is a reality.
I realised that this was the middle grade edition of the memoir, and I would have honestly loved to read the adult version of this without things left out or left vague for younger readers. I feel like opening myself to the raw experience will have a greater impact on me. In some points of the book, I felt like it was distant from Heumann's story, as it got bombarded by narration and facts but not her emotions.
In conclusion, I believe this is a fantastic read for those looking to deepen their knowledge about this revolution.
"Our disabilities weren't medical problems that we were going to "fix." Our problem was with the society. From our perspective, disability was something that could happen to anyone at any time, and frequently did, so it was the right thing for society to expect it and design for it."
-Judith Heumann
Learning about Judith Heumann's story opened my eyes to problems existing in our society. Reading her memoir was really important for me to better understand what it's like to be disabled. The points she made about how their disabilities weren't a "sickness" and weren't something to "fix" were such a powerful point in this memoir. She starts by using her experiences as a child as a springboard into her journey to spark a revolution that would lead to change.
Seeing how she struggled when some places in the world weren't designed for people like her in wheelchairs really got me thinking more about this topic. It's sad to see that even today, people are all still fighting for equality that we have yet to fully reach. I liked Judith Heumann's narration, despite it being a bit stilted at times. I could feel the fire within her, the anger she had every right to feel. It was inspiring to see her and her allies achieve Section 504 approval through words and actions rather than physical violence. The struggle for equality is something that shouldn't be as hard as it is, but unfortunately, it is a reality.
I realised that this was the middle grade edition of the memoir, and I would have honestly loved to read the adult version of this without things left out or left vague for younger readers. I feel like opening myself to the raw experience will have a greater impact on me. In some points of the book, I felt like it was distant from Heumann's story, as it got bombarded by narration and facts but not her emotions.
In conclusion, I believe this is a fantastic read for those looking to deepen their knowledge about this revolution.
July 20, 2022
read for my YA lit class (topic: biographies) (even though this is a memoir-biography, oops). super easy to read and entertaining but mostly inspirational and empowering. judith is awesome. I learned a lot about her and her impact on civil rights and the fight for equal access.
April 22, 2023
This book is a 4.5!! I loved how it told a great story, but it told it in a way that was easy to understand/comprehend. I also loved the sprinkles of humor that Judy put on there 🥰
May 27, 2022
Immediately after finishing Being Heumann, I got this middle grade version and read it with my 9-year-old daughter. She told me she learned so much. Throughout the book she was shocked at the injustices disabled people had to face, and we were both inspired by their fight for their civil rights. The book does a great job holding younger readers' attention (only covering the bare minimum of the boring government stuff you need to know to follow the story) and is written in a way young people can understand, using examples they can relate to. I highly recommend this for older elementary/middle school readers.
January 9, 2022
Overall: 4 star review
Summary:
A memoir about a woman who was born with polio and her fight for equal rights for people with disabilities.
Judy Heumann was denied the rights to go to her local school. Then she goes to college without having the buildings being assessable for her wheelchair. Then the state denied her to obtain a teaching license due to her disability. Judy sued the board of education. This started a chain of events to fight for equality for people with disabilities.
My thoughts:
This was an interesting read for me. I have watched documentaries at work about the fight for equal rights for people with disabilities. But they are always impersonal and more factual. It was nice to read a memoir from someone who saw and experienced it all firsthand.
To think there was a time where people with disabilities were treated so badly. How hard it was to fight “the system.” Anytime where you have to rely on politicians to make a change, it is always quite the fight. Politicians always resist change which is horrible. Changing people’s pre-conceived notions and prejudices are also hard to do. Judy’s bravery and protests, changed the way that America and the world perceived a person with a disability. The injustices that they were to endure was just horrible. It was through the hard work and dedication from the people who fought for equality that changed these perceptions at least in the workplace.
Needless to say, this memoir is inspiring and interesting to read. Ableism is still alive and well today. But at least the dedication of getting section 504 approved happened. This was a giant step forward for equality.
May 5, 2021
A memoir centered on the true story of the fight for Civil Rights for disabled people. Very historically based, but also well adapted for a young audience.
Judith Heumann is a compelling writer. Her fight to be recognized as a human being is intensely inspiring, and her eloquent and straightforward descriptions of what it is like to be a person with a disability day-to-day opens a door for understanding. I particularly appreciate how she highlights that we are all either people who need accommodation, or we are one illness or accident away from becoming someone who needs accommodation. The need for accessibility affects all of us, and creating a more accessible world improves the world for all of us.
This story centers on the occupation of the Federal Building in San Francisco to pressure the signing of regulation 504, but then continues to walk through some of the major legislation that followed that action, and into contemporary World politics. The book moves quickly, but explains itself well as it goes along. What a treasure, to hear this story from Heumann herself.
Advanced Readers' Copy Provided by Edelweiss.
Judith Heumann is a compelling writer. Her fight to be recognized as a human being is intensely inspiring, and her eloquent and straightforward descriptions of what it is like to be a person with a disability day-to-day opens a door for understanding. I particularly appreciate how she highlights that we are all either people who need accommodation, or we are one illness or accident away from becoming someone who needs accommodation. The need for accessibility affects all of us, and creating a more accessible world improves the world for all of us.
This story centers on the occupation of the Federal Building in San Francisco to pressure the signing of regulation 504, but then continues to walk through some of the major legislation that followed that action, and into contemporary World politics. The book moves quickly, but explains itself well as it goes along. What a treasure, to hear this story from Heumann herself.
Advanced Readers' Copy Provided by Edelweiss.
January 13, 2023
Wonderful YA adaptation of Judy’s fight for disability rights. If I wasn’t reading this with my middle school students, I would have opted for the non-YA memoir as there are moments I can tell are intentionally slim for YA accessibility.
The parts that stand out to me the most are Judy’s path to becoming a teacher in New York, the onset of the 504 sit-in (especially the involvement of the Black Panthers!), and the epilogue.
The parts that stand out to me the most are Judy’s path to becoming a teacher in New York, the onset of the 504 sit-in (especially the involvement of the Black Panthers!), and the epilogue.
January 7, 2026
Even though change seems slow, like it's impossible and takes forever, and you are just one person up against an entire government, know this: activism makes a difference.
Speaking out against discrimination is always right. But first you have to SEE the discrimination. This is a great book about how the disabilities act came into being in 1990. It centers on the protesters in San Francisco in 1973 trying to get the 504 passed.
Speaking out against discrimination is always right. But first you have to SEE the discrimination. This is a great book about how the disabilities act came into being in 1990. It centers on the protesters in San Francisco in 1973 trying to get the 504 passed.
July 30, 2024
3.5 stars
This was interesting to learn more about the fight it took to gain rights in the United States for people with disabilities. The discrimination that Judith Heumann and others faced was awful and unfortunately, not surprising.
The book seemed most appropriate for middle grade students, but it could be inspiring for teens that are hoping to evoke change of their own. It does provide history and context that most people probably don't realize. The act wasn't passed until 1973 and even then, it took years for changes and accessibility to be made. As a mom with a stroller in tow, I now notice how inaccessible some places still are today in 2024.
This was interesting to learn more about the fight it took to gain rights in the United States for people with disabilities. The discrimination that Judith Heumann and others faced was awful and unfortunately, not surprising.
The book seemed most appropriate for middle grade students, but it could be inspiring for teens that are hoping to evoke change of their own. It does provide history and context that most people probably don't realize. The act wasn't passed until 1973 and even then, it took years for changes and accessibility to be made. As a mom with a stroller in tow, I now notice how inaccessible some places still are today in 2024.
May 16, 2025
Great read aloud to 5th/6th graders. This is my second book by Judy Heumann in the last month. I appreciate the history, stories and experiences and the chance to keep learning! There is more work to be done for disability justice
April 2, 2023
Fantastic for young adults (and all ages). You'll never look at steps the same way.
March 17, 2023
Reading rolling warrior made me experience disability in a way that I wouldn't have thought of. Reading all the ups and downs of what judy had to go through made me realize how much work she had to put up with and do. She had excellent wording and she was very descriptive.
March 17, 2023
The book was very inspiring. It changed my perspective on how I see people with disabilities and I think the story is told powerfully. This is now one of my favorite books and I would re-read this book.
March 17, 2023
I loved rolling warrior. It's about this girl who wanted to give access rights to everyone so she kept persevering and never gave up and then she did it! I loved how inspiring the story was, and now I'm inspired to if I fall to get back up again.
February 12, 2022
Very well written and so, so informative!
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March 17, 2023This book about Judy is very moving. It is a very good book. I hate how some people just love to discriminate against other people.
September 21, 2021
I finished this book in one day. It's an easy and quick read possibly because it's a condensed version of the memoir for a YA audience, but whatever the reason it works. The cover art is wonderful and the design of the book is fun. I wish the book came with poster of the cover art. I like the fonts used as well and the page design for each of the sections and the title pages. It's a great YA novel and I am now curious how it differs from the non-YA memoir.
The book is a memoir by and about Judy Heumann who is a wheelchair riding fighter for disability rights. The book is broken into three section with the first section starting with her early years (so childhood up to college), but does so in a very condensed fashion only highlighting the important moments -- maybe the most pivotal moments would be more accurate. Then the book goes into her involvement of getting 504 passed and I think all of section two is devoted to this. Then in section three (which maybe has 2 chapters) looks at some years passed and where Judy is and what she is doing with global disability rights with The World Bank.
The book is a memoir by and about Judy Heumann who is a wheelchair riding fighter for disability rights. The book is broken into three section with the first section starting with her early years (so childhood up to college), but does so in a very condensed fashion only highlighting the important moments -- maybe the most pivotal moments would be more accurate. Then the book goes into her involvement of getting 504 passed and I think all of section two is devoted to this. Then in section three (which maybe has 2 chapters) looks at some years passed and where Judy is and what she is doing with global disability rights with The World Bank.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2023
Rolling Warrior, a book about Judith Huemann and her experience with Polio. Judith lost her ability to walk at 18 months old. Her book covers her journey through school and her fight to change the way disabled people are treated through their education.
Chapter one gives insight on how someone in a wheelchair thinks throughout the day and the things they cannot do on their own. The writing is witty and entertaining. You can tell that Judith is a very intelligent person whose ideas go past her physical capabilities. Judith's struggles are present, and you feel for her.
3/5
Chapter two covers her realization that she isn't necessarily a normal kid. She had been getting homeschooled but the material she was given was way slower than what her friends were doing in actual school. When her brother was going to kindergarten while she was at home doing worksheets until finally, she was able to go to school with her friends. You can hear the desperate happiness in the words when Judith was able to go to school. It is like a miny battle had been won in a long strenuous war.
3/5
In chapter four, Judith begins her college career at Long Island University. She is excited to begin but needs help due to her wheelchair. She is hopeful that her roommate would be able to help her in bed when needed, but unfortunately, she came back very late some nights, and it was very hard for Judith to get anything done. I feel for Judith. She has to deal with such issues while no one seems to care about how it makes her feel.
3/5
Chapter 13 covers the sit in in the San Fransico HEW headquarters. It had already been three days since the protest had begun and talk about a bomb in the building had been spreading around. I was worried that Judith would have to evacuate the building for the safety of her and the other protestors. To my surprise, Judith seemed fed up with the idea. She said to Kitty, "I don't care. I'm going to bed. Tell them to wake me up when it goes off." The idea of her pushing off a possible bomb in her vicinity only to continue her cause shows the kind of person she is and how much determination she has to continue her cause. Truely inspirational, yet quite comedic.
4/5
Chapters 17 and 18 were roller coasters of emotion. Her talk with the guard leading to her smashing the door to meet Califano was an awfully exciting moment. The other protestors joining in as well made me full of spirit. The next chapter, When Judith realized the regulations had been signed, it brought me so much joy. Understanding the work that was put in to get up to this point made this moment extremely satisfying. She had finally reached victory.
4.5/5
This book was extremely captivating and is a good example of what it takes to make a change. definitely worth the read!
Chapter one gives insight on how someone in a wheelchair thinks throughout the day and the things they cannot do on their own. The writing is witty and entertaining. You can tell that Judith is a very intelligent person whose ideas go past her physical capabilities. Judith's struggles are present, and you feel for her.
3/5
Chapter two covers her realization that she isn't necessarily a normal kid. She had been getting homeschooled but the material she was given was way slower than what her friends were doing in actual school. When her brother was going to kindergarten while she was at home doing worksheets until finally, she was able to go to school with her friends. You can hear the desperate happiness in the words when Judith was able to go to school. It is like a miny battle had been won in a long strenuous war.
3/5
In chapter four, Judith begins her college career at Long Island University. She is excited to begin but needs help due to her wheelchair. She is hopeful that her roommate would be able to help her in bed when needed, but unfortunately, she came back very late some nights, and it was very hard for Judith to get anything done. I feel for Judith. She has to deal with such issues while no one seems to care about how it makes her feel.
3/5
Chapter 13 covers the sit in in the San Fransico HEW headquarters. It had already been three days since the protest had begun and talk about a bomb in the building had been spreading around. I was worried that Judith would have to evacuate the building for the safety of her and the other protestors. To my surprise, Judith seemed fed up with the idea. She said to Kitty, "I don't care. I'm going to bed. Tell them to wake me up when it goes off." The idea of her pushing off a possible bomb in her vicinity only to continue her cause shows the kind of person she is and how much determination she has to continue her cause. Truely inspirational, yet quite comedic.
4/5
Chapters 17 and 18 were roller coasters of emotion. Her talk with the guard leading to her smashing the door to meet Califano was an awfully exciting moment. The other protestors joining in as well made me full of spirit. The next chapter, When Judith realized the regulations had been signed, it brought me so much joy. Understanding the work that was put in to get up to this point made this moment extremely satisfying. She had finally reached victory.
4.5/5
This book was extremely captivating and is a good example of what it takes to make a change. definitely worth the read!
January 5, 2024
Judy Heumann is a hero and I am so sad that her story isn't a core part of curricula across the United States. I hadn't heard of her until her book was selected as the all-read for Facing History last year. Facing History continuously empowers me to keep learning, paying attention, and growing in my understanding of history and its implications on us now... to respond to the ongoing uncovering of my ignorance with action and humility rather than simply lament.
Listening to the audiobook was particularly great this time around because the reader sounds younger and tells the story in a very engaging voice that makes me feel like I'm just sitting with Judy's younger self. This is very well written for a younger audience. She succinctly explains how legislation works while walking us through her childhood, home life, motivations, what propels her forward, what frustrates her, what limitations she faces at various steps, her responses and why, the community that rises around her to support one another... while reminding us of how much change we can bring about and the power of channeling frustration and anger into action, all while acknowledging her own privileges as she travels around the work in her continued activism. The 26-day sit-in at the Department of Health Education and Welfare (HEW) headquarters in San Francisco is amazing... how those with significant needs suffered through what is already hard enough for able-bodied people for this important cause and how politicians callously slunk away from their responsibilities to uphold the dignity and rights of citizens. I looked up one of the politicians often named in her memoir and was struck by how overwhelmingly positive his Wikipedia page is about his commitment to the welfare of Americans. Sigh. I am so inspired by Judy. I love that she wanted to be a second grade teacher and responded to the school board's refusal to allow her a license by fighting back, not only for herself but for everyone with disabilities. Without her, who knows where we'd be today.
Listening to the audiobook was particularly great this time around because the reader sounds younger and tells the story in a very engaging voice that makes me feel like I'm just sitting with Judy's younger self. This is very well written for a younger audience. She succinctly explains how legislation works while walking us through her childhood, home life, motivations, what propels her forward, what frustrates her, what limitations she faces at various steps, her responses and why, the community that rises around her to support one another... while reminding us of how much change we can bring about and the power of channeling frustration and anger into action, all while acknowledging her own privileges as she travels around the work in her continued activism. The 26-day sit-in at the Department of Health Education and Welfare (HEW) headquarters in San Francisco is amazing... how those with significant needs suffered through what is already hard enough for able-bodied people for this important cause and how politicians callously slunk away from their responsibilities to uphold the dignity and rights of citizens. I looked up one of the politicians often named in her memoir and was struck by how overwhelmingly positive his Wikipedia page is about his commitment to the welfare of Americans. Sigh. I am so inspired by Judy. I love that she wanted to be a second grade teacher and responded to the school board's refusal to allow her a license by fighting back, not only for herself but for everyone with disabilities. Without her, who knows where we'd be today.
February 13, 2022
For a long time, I associated civil rights with those pertaining to women and Blacks in the United States. Once my eyes were opened to the many injustices around the world and in this country, I came to realize that there was much to learn about one aspect of civil rights in particular--that of those with disabilities. Having watched and learned from the documentary Crip Camp, I learned a little bit about this movement, and then learned even more from this memoir from Judy Heumann, one of the movers and shakers in that movement. In this version of her story adapted for young readers, Heumann describes her formative years and attempts to attend school with her friends. It's unthinkable now that she was initially denied access to school because officials considered her a "fire hazard" because of her wheelchair and that she was refused a teaching license because of her disability, the result of polio as a child. Something as simple as a street curb or stairs presented barriers to movement and independence in those days--and yes, still, in some places, even today. But as infuriating as these and other incidents are, readers will take heart at how Judy and her supportive family took on the system and forced it to change. Eventually, frustrated at the federal government's slow response to proposed legislation, Judy was part of 150 protesters with various disabilities who took over the San Francisco Federal Building in order to gain the attention of officials who kept putting them off. Hers is a story that is inspiring, impressive, and important, and every student in junior high should read it for its historical context and to appreciate this outspoken, determined woman who truly epitomized the book's title: Judith Heumann was, indeed, a "rolling warrior," a force of nature who refused to let others keep her down, deny her dreams, and marginalize her and others like her. The book captures her irrepressible nature and outspoken ways.
June 1, 2021
A true story about Judith Heumann's fight for her civil rights.
As someone who has worked with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, I'm always eager to learn more, especially when it comes to civil rights. Judith Heumann wrote a compelling memoir detailing how she felt and was treated while growing up with complications from having polio. Judith talks about how she wasn't able to go to school at the same time as others and when she was able to, it was to a special education class. She continued to deal with similar issues as she grew older. For instance, Judith discusses how she won an award from school, but wasn't able to get up the stage due to stairs. The principal insisted that she stay down in the front row. Her dad refused and pulled her backward up the stairs. The principal made her sit behind all of the other people and when her name was called, the principal met her more then half way so no one would see her. Through these stories, you get to know what life was like before civil rights for folks with disabilities. You get to know Judith and wish you were there when she helped stage and participated in a sit-in.
Judith Heumann is a wonderful writer and has dealt with a lot in her life. As an able-bodied person, it's helpful to see what other's perspective is. This book provides exactly that.
ARC provided by Edelweiss+ for an honest review.
As someone who has worked with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, I'm always eager to learn more, especially when it comes to civil rights. Judith Heumann wrote a compelling memoir detailing how she felt and was treated while growing up with complications from having polio. Judith talks about how she wasn't able to go to school at the same time as others and when she was able to, it was to a special education class. She continued to deal with similar issues as she grew older. For instance, Judith discusses how she won an award from school, but wasn't able to get up the stage due to stairs. The principal insisted that she stay down in the front row. Her dad refused and pulled her backward up the stairs. The principal made her sit behind all of the other people and when her name was called, the principal met her more then half way so no one would see her. Through these stories, you get to know what life was like before civil rights for folks with disabilities. You get to know Judith and wish you were there when she helped stage and participated in a sit-in.
Judith Heumann is a wonderful writer and has dealt with a lot in her life. As an able-bodied person, it's helpful to see what other's perspective is. This book provides exactly that.
ARC provided by Edelweiss+ for an honest review.
November 7, 2021
Co-Author Judith Heumann draws on her personal and community activism experiences to bring to life the prolonged and courageous battle for equal, human rights that she and others with physical differences waged in the mid-twentieth century. My own cousin was struck with polio in the 1950s and she attended my school with the added burden of braces and crutches, in anaacnietn three-story bullding without an elevator. but at least she was not turned away.
Judith's account begins when she was a young child with parents who survived the Holocaust and viewed obstacles as something to work over, around, or through. Watching her siblings attend school while she was denied that right, then attending basement classes that were never meant to approximate real academic rigor, only fueled her fire to prove her capacity to engage fully in the world around her.
All this is inspiring and informative, but it is only the beginning of her many years of activism and organizing that eventually (and dramatically) led to the Americans with Disabilities legislation that
eventually resulted in a built environment that allowed access, and protected rights to full participation in society.
Her journey, and subsequent role in global rights activism, offer a primer in both emotional and pragmatic engagement to make the world a better place for herself and for everyone.
Judith's account begins when she was a young child with parents who survived the Holocaust and viewed obstacles as something to work over, around, or through. Watching her siblings attend school while she was denied that right, then attending basement classes that were never meant to approximate real academic rigor, only fueled her fire to prove her capacity to engage fully in the world around her.
All this is inspiring and informative, but it is only the beginning of her many years of activism and organizing that eventually (and dramatically) led to the Americans with Disabilities legislation that
eventually resulted in a built environment that allowed access, and protected rights to full participation in society.
Her journey, and subsequent role in global rights activism, offer a primer in both emotional and pragmatic engagement to make the world a better place for herself and for everyone.
October 8, 2021
I read this in one sitting, and it reads super conversational and incredibly compelling. Near the end, I discovered an anecdote about a classmate of mine from junior high, including a photo of her on the capitol steps. It's one of those moments that reminded me how VERY recent the events of this book are. It would make a good crossover read for adults too.
I highly recommend this, and even if you don't read it maybe look into legislation and legal matters that are currently under consideration in the US that will have wide ranging ramifications for people with disabilities among other populations. Here's a summation of a recent vigil and a brief piece by congresswoman Ayanna Pressley about Home & Community Based Services. You can also search the hashtag HCBS to find more articles and reporting.
I highly recommend this, and even if you don't read it maybe look into legislation and legal matters that are currently under consideration in the US that will have wide ranging ramifications for people with disabilities among other populations. Here's a summation of a recent vigil and a brief piece by congresswoman Ayanna Pressley about Home & Community Based Services. You can also search the hashtag HCBS to find more articles and reporting.
Read
May 13, 2023I loved this young readers’ edition of Judy’s memoir, Being Heumann (such a perfect title). You may have seen her story in the Crip Camp documentary. I wasn’t even 5 years old when the ADA passed in Congress but I figured it had happened many years before that (!).
Judy passed away this year so the publication of her books didn’t come too soon. She is so inspirational and her story is told clearly for younger readers. I think it’s a great way to learn about disabled people (if you’re unfamiliar) and to imagine and absorb who was in this fight, what happened from Judy’s perspective, and why and how LONG it took to get our US of A to begin acknowledging disabled citizens as people. It’s great inspiration for other types of activism as well.
It could be read to younger children who aren’t ready for a book this length.
Judy passed away this year so the publication of her books didn’t come too soon. She is so inspirational and her story is told clearly for younger readers. I think it’s a great way to learn about disabled people (if you’re unfamiliar) and to imagine and absorb who was in this fight, what happened from Judy’s perspective, and why and how LONG it took to get our US of A to begin acknowledging disabled citizens as people. It’s great inspiration for other types of activism as well.
It could be read to younger children who aren’t ready for a book this length.
December 28, 2022
When I saw the film Crip Camp a couple of years ago, I was astounded and inspired by the creativity, endurance and courage of the Disability Rights activists. That film is where I learned about the 504 protests and about Judy Heumann and many other activists. This book brings a more detailed account of those protests, bookended by earlier and later parts of Judy's life. As she writes in the book, it is important to hear/read the stories of people from their perspective, to understand what they have been through and how they used their life's experience and all the skills they built up to find ways to bring about the changes society needed. It is a fluid read, and I recommend it to people of any age. (There is an adult version called Being Heumann as well.)
April 6, 2023
back in college I watched Crip Camp on netflix and learned the icon that is Judy Heumann. I came across her memoir when she died last month- rest in power.
I didn’t realize this was the YA adaptation of her memoir (which I’ll be reading next to compare the two) but you really would have no idea it was YA except for its length. Definitely recommend this one for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of disabled people and disability rights (or lack there of) in america and the activists who worked tirelessly to fight against the discrimination they faced daily. I love Judy’s quote that was something like “why can’t anyone with any disability become who they want to be?” when discussing her aspirations to become a teacher!
I didn’t realize this was the YA adaptation of her memoir (which I’ll be reading next to compare the two) but you really would have no idea it was YA except for its length. Definitely recommend this one for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of disabled people and disability rights (or lack there of) in america and the activists who worked tirelessly to fight against the discrimination they faced daily. I love Judy’s quote that was something like “why can’t anyone with any disability become who they want to be?” when discussing her aspirations to become a teacher!
July 16, 2024
BEST BOOK! I am a disabled young girl and I not only got to learn about my people and their struggles to be heard but I felt seen. I always have felt hated, wanted dead even. But, this book opened my eyes to how cruel people can be to those that are just living their life differently. Judy Huemann is truly a gift to the universe. I recommend this to every single person in the world.
My message to those out there is just because Judy got us accessibility and laws to protect us doesn’t mean we aren’t oppressed. If it took till 1990 to have basic human rights then the world is messed up.
Now that we have legal respect we NEED societies respect and understanding.
No age rating for this because this is history and it needs to be heard by everyone.
My message to those out there is just because Judy got us accessibility and laws to protect us doesn’t mean we aren’t oppressed. If it took till 1990 to have basic human rights then the world is messed up.
Now that we have legal respect we NEED societies respect and understanding.
No age rating for this because this is history and it needs to be heard by everyone.
October 27, 2024
I read this for a parent book club at my daughter’s school and otherwise wouldn’t have found my way to it. This is a very digestible story of one of the leaders in the disability civil rights movement-Judy Heumann. Well told, not too granular and a good read for the YA crowd, although I enjoyed it as an adult. A good story for children to read on the struggles of the “others” in fighting to belong and not be seen as less than. Highly recommend this read for children in learning how to understand things from a perspective other than their own. I hadn’t even heard of the ADA until I hit law school. This is a great intro to why there are (or should be) access ramps and other accommodations everywhere they go.
December 24, 2024
I didn’t realize that this was a MG/YA edition of an existing memoir (it sounds like this is the case from the comments). My critiques are mostly centered around how I wanted more detail and info, but that’s on me for getting the wrong edition.
However, this was still very informative, and I think is a great book for younger readers. I was familiar with the movement from other books, but this built on what I already knew. It’s wild to me how recently this occurred. I kept thinking about where we are today and feeling grim, but hey, Judy Heumann and a bunch of other folks with disabilities fought for years. Intersectional alliance drove progress against an intersectional problem that resulted in, among other things, the ADA.
However, this was still very informative, and I think is a great book for younger readers. I was familiar with the movement from other books, but this built on what I already knew. It’s wild to me how recently this occurred. I kept thinking about where we are today and feeling grim, but hey, Judy Heumann and a bunch of other folks with disabilities fought for years. Intersectional alliance drove progress against an intersectional problem that resulted in, among other things, the ADA.
October 10, 2021
This book is a quick and interesting read. The author became paralyzed by polio when she was just 18 months old. She had to navigate her New York City neighborhood and schools in the 1950s and 1960s. She became an advocate for disability rights and was involved with Section 504 accessibility and The Americans with Disabilities Act. I didn’t know anything about this slice of American history and enjoyed learning about it. The tone of the book is a bit strange-it’s written in a voice I would describe as an old school woman who has been teaching second grade for 30+ years and doesn’t suffer any nonsense. I thought that the tone was interesting to say the least.
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