Being Heumann

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?

Judith begins her memoir by stating, “I never wished I didn’t have a disability” (xi). How does this statement set the premise for the memoir’s tone and themes? What is Judith’s stance on disability, and how does it differ from the common discourse? In what ways does Judith challenge these stereotypes and urge people toward Seeing Disability Differently?

In her memoir, Judith recounts many experiences of discrimination and their effects on her and other people with disabilities, as well as on society as a whole. What are The Effects of Discrimination? How does Judith battle discrimination, and what does her story say about the Long Road to Equality?

Judith was born in 1947 and has lived through several political administrations, cultural and paradigm shifts, and historical events. In what ways is Judith shaped by the history she is a part of? How did the culture of each era that Judith discusses influence the path her life took and the gradual climb toward equal rights?

Judith’s memoir also serves as a mechanism of persuasion and education as she describes the history of disability rights and encourages Seeing Disability Differently. Which rhetorical techniques does Judith employ, and is she effective in persuading the reader? Why or why not?

Judith presents several arguments as to why society should accommodate disabilities and strive to be inclusive and achieve equal rights for everyone. Why is it important for people to view disability as a normal fact of life and design society around it? How does doing so help not only those with disabilities but all humans?

Judith and those she has worked with over the years made great strides in the disability rights movements and in improving access, education, inclusion, and autonomy for people with disabilities. Still, Judith asserts that the fight is never over. In what ways are the lives of people with disabilities still in need of improvement? What are the risks of becoming complacent?