18 December 1947 
Sagittarius 
Before glory
She contracted polio at only 18 months old and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. From ages 9 to 18, she attended a disability-focused summer camp called Camp Jened in New York.
About Judith Heumann
American activist who dedicated her life to fighting for disability rights. She is known for the Heumann v. Board of Education of the City of New York case, where she sued the Board of Education on the basis of discrimination after not being allowed to obtain a teaching license because she was in a wheelchair. She became the first wheelchair-user teacher in New York City after the case was settled without trial.
Family Life
Her parents immigrated to the USA from Germany. She is one of three siblings. Her brother, Joseph Heumann, is a film professor and author. In 1992, she married Jorge Pineda.
Friends and colleagues
She served during Bill Clinton's administration as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.
Fast facts
She played a large role in developing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1974. In 2021, she began a podcast titled The Heuman Perspective, which hosted guests who were disability changemakers.
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