Fighting for YES!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann

Gr 2-4–The soft palette of the gouache and digital illustrations give the story of Judith Heumann, one of the key activists to end discrimination against people with disabilities, the patina of a historical work. At a young age, Heumann contracted polio and began using a wheelchair. A wheelchair in the 1950s meant she was barred from participating in many activities, including school, which she was unable to attend until she was nine. The discrimination that she faced became unbearable when she was denied a teaching license, again, because she used a wheelchair. After winning her case against the New York State Board of Education, Heumann continued her activism and began to work for the passage of Section 504 of the proposed Rehabilitation Act. In it, any organization that received federal funds would be required to provide equal access to people with disabilities. The text is lengthy, but simple enough for younger readers to follow and appreciate. A call to action from Heumann is included at the end, while an author’s note gives further details. Sources and notes are included as well as the actual script for the current Section 504.