Our fight for disability rights -- and why we're not done yet | Judith Heumann 

I just learned about her passing today and I didn’t know her till now. Her speech has given me hope, even if it only lasts for a little while, and I hope I have enough courage and energy to continue living as a disabled person. Rest In Peace ❤

Thank you for fighting this for all of us. Any body can become disabled at any point of your life. If you get to old age, you're going to need this. If you don't think this is your issue, you're wrong.

A titan of a woman. She changed our world! She was buried today… Rest In Peace, dear lady. God bless you!

What an inspiring talk. My broken hip has led to using a walker. It is really true that anyone can become disabled at any time.

I watched Crip Camp during recovery from being hit by a car and learned about Judy for the first time. Judy is one of those people who just blows you away with her charisma and force. I was so sad to hear of her death. She is a truly incredibly lady.

I don't know how some people in comments below can't understand that a person with physical disability hasn't got any cognitive problem, they're trapped in a body that doesn't work well and you should understand what this situation can bring to them in our world. Society have to develop an inclusive education which means that all students are attended and are welcomed by their schools, classmates, families or education system in age-appropriate, regular classes and are supported to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of the life of the school. Like a "normal" student. Eventually, people can be aware of the importance of values in education: TOLERANCE, UNDERSTANDING (EMPATHY), BE RESPECTFUL and so on. Thank Judith Heumann for sharing your opinion.

Fantastic! I have been in an electric wheelchair for the last 3 years. Spinal injury due to MS. I never really thought about it before but, yes kerbs and steps/stairs into places are the bain of my life! My local newly built hospital doesn't have automatic doors in the corridors or a disabled place in the cafeteria! A friends daughter in a wheelchair is being discriminated right now by her school! Scotland has a long way to go too! It's better than years ago, but still needs to further...

The fight against disability is a very long road to go . My brother who is mentally disabled is still labelled as a mad man even after being more responsible than many people. People think these people don’t know anything when only these people can see the reality of this world

Hi Judy! This is Ariel! Very inspiring words! Thank you for all the work you have done!

Rest in Power Judy! We will fight on in your memory.

She's a legend. Read her book!

You’re shooting star🕊 thank you🙏

I still remember saying a prayer for the hundreds of people trapped in "iron lung machines" and stored in an old airplane hanger outside of Washington DC in 1951. A friend of mine, as an adult, only retained enough mobility to throw his wheelchair into his car. He had to type using the eraser on his pencil. In the mid-60s, the whole country was horrified by the mistreatment of elderly and disabled people being wearhoused in "Rest Homes" in Detroit, Michigan. The judges insisted that they didn't have the laws to enforce appropriate care. It was too obvious! It was too elementary! The country started passing the first of their senior and disability protection laws. However, it's not enough! My two sons had a rare medical syndrome. Frequently, in Michigan, if you have a medical disorder, the government decides for you that you have a mental health problem. With a "mental health problem", you are discredited, non-family people can claim you are incapable of caring for yourself, and all of your care and living conditions can suddenly be under the control of people who simply want access to your private/government assets. Governor John Engler got rid of the Michigan Public Health Act and the Michigan Mental Health Hospitals in 1975. (Yeah, he's the same one who just got put on the board of MSU after that Nassar scandal.) Many of those mental health patients were released on to the streets to die during the winter. The local countys have been trying for more than 40 years to fix his one stupid decision. In places not accredited by the Joint Commission, it's still possible to find a teenager pretending to be a doctor. It's legal until they try to write a prescription. One of my sons died in October. Now, I just want to know when they intend to murder my other son. He functions at a genius level, but the state can manipulate him more easily if they classify him as "developmently disabled". My sons have been written up in international medical journals, but the federal, state and local governments have treated them like trash. Supposedly, I'm depressed because my grandmother taught me to knit while I was still in diapers! Good luck fixing this problem. The money attached makes it easy to subvert.

I love your talk, Judith! 😁❤️

Good talk, and informative, thank you.

This is a very informative perspective. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! awesome and inspirational message. THANK YOU

Thank u sooo much for this 🙏🏻

Thank you for your talk.

Thank you for your smile!!!

Descansa en paz Judith, tu lucha no será en vano. Es nuestra lucha por los derechos de las personas con discapacidad en todo el mundo.

So inspirational and educational for all people.

Keep strong thanks for sharing

Stomping my wheels for you!! ;)

Great talk.

Thank you

Amazing Talkkkk!!!!!

She's great

Why is EEOC the only place to take a disability discrimination lawsuit!!! I missed my 90 days right to sue, thanks to the person that was helping me, and now I can’t prove that I was fired discriminatorily!!! I didn’t receive my accommodations for my vision, made errors and got fired!!! I’m still suffering and devastated from this firing, since 2020, September

Gracias

Such an awesome story! T^T

What a loss, but lets raise our voice for the next generation of disabled persons

she was in over time

I once built a wheelchair access ramp. Thats my only contribution

After watching this video, I could feel how difficult it was for the disabled to get the job they wanted. Watching this video made me wonder what policies or laws the U.S. government can implement for people with disabilities. Also, this video is from six years ago, so I wondered what policy the U.S. government is implementing now, six years later.

To the people in the comments, stating accessibility is a privilege, not a right, try this....how would u unlock your front door if the lock was a key, and all u had was a numbered keypad, with no parties that you are aware of , had the knowledge of what the code was, locksmiths couldn't crack it, and u couldn't crawl thru a window .....that is similar to non accessible stores, stairs with no ramp and ridiculous medical exams for jobs etc...

If you live in NJ, please write to your congressman or congresswoman to pass NJ A2854. The bill makes bullying disabled people accountable.

im here because the school but this is beatiful pleas no discrimination

I hope she has a thoughtful and Individual inalienable human rights orientation. TED has largely been an Imperialist tool but many participants are more open minded.

RIP trailblazer

Fight ableism - everyday!

necesitamos un LIBERTADOR VENEZOLANO que tenga las bolas de pelear , como lo hizo Bolivar ( fuerza y armas ) , este país es de nosotros , es nuestra soberanía .. esta es una guerra por el continente Americano , abran los ojos . Donde estas ? Sal por favor . Dinos que tenemos que hacer y te apoyaremos .

Thank goodness in today world this shouldn’t happen

First

For real this has to be? I mean its bullshit. Human is Human. Im so sorry that there are people that treat others like garbage. This Video shouldn't be a thing whatsoever.

+

I think they have the same rights but not the same possibility because of their conditions (and the terrible American health care). They have the right to climb the steps but they can’t because they are disabled. As someone said earlier inaccessibility isn’t discrimination. It’s just too hard to make everything accessible, I know a guy who might close his youth hostel because he doesn’t have the money to comply with the new French law for the disabled.

This can’t be done unironically please stop get away from me

So basicly she got everything she wanted. She could have used the time telling people whats in that bill she wants to be passed but instead went to anecdotes of poor disabled people. I dont know about her, but for my part, as a disabled person, ive been given all the tools (beds, wheelchairs, medicine,therapy) i need to get along and get better. I can never pay that back, and i never felt discrimination from society. There is no law that says "disabled people are excluded", you simply gotta work harder.

I fight vampires

I know my comment may attract a lot of criticism but its what I think is fair; however I am willing to be persuaded to a different opinion when I see a logical alternative. I understand disability makes life super hard, including the lives of the family and caretakers but that does not make them entitled to automatic employment or tax benefits etc... I think what our world needs to find is, a way for disabled people to be competitive and productive to society. The woman here talks about equal rights and I couldnt agree more that she deserved an equal education but to demand a job in a field where others may be more fit doesnt seem fair because it may be a burden to the institution that is aimed at making a profit balancing supply and demand. It is heartbreaking but if I ran a company and the government forced me to hire a set quota of disabled workers that cant contribute and create slopes here and there just for that 1 person, I wouldnt be happy especially if the company is not doing well financially. Maybe disabled people can earn a living writing books or counseling or anything non-physical and independent. I donno its such a delicate issue and Im still learning but this is just my opinion. So please let me know your ideas and develop this view.

Did she just compare the fact that some schools couldnt take her, bcs of her disability, to the jews in germany in the 1930s??? wtf

Yeah yeah everybody is oppressed but just go for equality pls

rights or privileges?🤔🤔

WHAT DO YOU WANT!!?!

Can you tell me, what rights disabled do not have? Oh, did you ment priviliges, but it is not Politically Correct to say this?

You never have the right to demand something from someone else.

When people will learn that its okay to be rejected for performance reasons, whether you can change your performance or not, people think everything is personal and discrimination when its just about being able to perform gosh! How the society became so much whinny childs that refuse to accept reality

What a load of absolute horseshit. Disabled people have the exact same rights as me or anyone else. However, it’s a question of accessibility, but honestly.. Just live your life. You’ve been served on a silver platter.