Undivided Resources
Article

Parent Resources on Disability Awareness and Acceptance


Published: Jan. 23, 2021Updated: Aug. 5, 2024

Featured image

Judy Heumann experienced discrimination from the age of five. A wheelchair user who contracted polio as a baby, she was denied the right to attend school because she was considered a “fire hazard.” Judy heard this phrase again and again as she grew up, from ticket sellers at movie theaters to the NYC Board of Education, who tried (but failed) to keep her from teaching. Judy’s parents played an integral role in raising her to fight for her rights, and she continued to use her voice and passion to advocate for disability rights. Her work led to the expansion and implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and so much more.

We were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to sit down and chat with Judy before her passing in March 2023. Among our many takeaways, one big one is the importance of raising our kids to be strong advocates. We’ve put together a list of books, TED Talks, and online resources as a tribute to her, and we recommend that you start with her impactful work:

Highlights from our chat with Judy Heumann

Judy, on her advocacy work leading to the eventual 1977 signing of Section 504 regulations:

“We weren’t a huge group but we were a loud group and we were everywhere.”

On the importance of self-agency:

"Try to make sure that your kids are getting to exercise choices that your non-disabled kids are getting to exercise. If you’re hiring someone through the Regional Center, whether it’s at home or in school, it’s very important that the child be engaged in decision-making as much as possible. Regardless of the kind of disability they have, it’s important to engage them. What colors do they like? What foods do they like?"

On being “calmly unstoppable” and sharing stories:

“I made a fuss for everybody; it wasn’t always fun, but I’ve got so many stories. Knowing the multiplicity of stories that you have and sharing those stories with your family and friends — not only what the problems were, but what you’ve been doing to solve them — allows people to see that they’re not alone."

Resources for Parent Advocacy

Books

TED Talks

Other online resources

  • We All Belong is a documentary film exploring the issues of belonging and diversity in our classrooms. Profiles of real parents highlight their shared dreams and fears. Listen as children, parents, and professionals discuss the disadvantages of a non-inclusive learning environment.

Online advocacy resources

Crip Camp: The Official Virtual Experience

This excellent companion website to the Netflix documentary has links to webinars that will take place all summer from some of the most noted disability advocates, discussing everything from sex to work to celebrating the ADA’s 30th anniversary. Crip Camp’s Facebook Page is another excellent resource.

Disability Visibility Project

The Disability Visibility project hosts and amplifies the stories of disabled people through their tweets, podcast episodes, radio stories, audio clips, images, and blog posts. Their biweekly podcast explores disability politics, culture, and media.

ASAN: Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

ASAN is an organization whose disability advocacy focuses on people with autism. They advocate for better public policy, developing autistic cultural activities, and offer leadership training for autistic advocates.

The Arc

The Arc supports the rights of people with disabilities, including advocating for full inclusion and participation in their communities. Their work focuses on everything from civil rights to education, employment, health care, housing, and grassroots advocacy. Their local chapter can be found here.

ADAPT

This national grassroots community organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to ensure that people with disabilities can live in freedom. Follow their Facebook page here.

One Out of Five: Disability History and Pride

This resource centers the voices of people with disabilities and provides lessons and resources that “celebrate the history and identities within this large and diverse community”. Parents can find five lesson plans, tons of extra resources, and a book guide listing 85 books of fiction, nonfiction, anthologies, poetry, and more.

Be sure to check out our advocacy resources for kids too!

Contents


Overview

Highlights from our chat with Judy Heumann

Resources for Parent Advocacy
Blue asterisk
Liney circle
Join for free

Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Get Started
Tags:

Author

Undivided Editorial TeamStaff

Reviewed by Undivided Editorial Team,


Promise Image
Each piece of content has been rigorously researched, edited, and vetted to bring you the latest and most up-to-date information. Learn more about our content and research process here.
A Navigator is your Partner at each turn
Every Undivided Navigator has years of experience supporting families raising kids with disabilities or parenting their own. Partner with an Undivided Navigator for a free Kickstart to learn first hand what support feels like!
tick-icon
Expert-driven content, guidance, and solutions.
tick-icon
Member events and office hours with real answers, plus access to our private parents' group.
tick-icon
Priority to begin a free Kickstart of the Undivided Support System with a dedicated Navigator.
“It’s so helpful to have one place that you can go to get many answers.”–Leeza Woodbury, with Navigator Kelly since 2020
*Currently offering Navigator Kickstarts to residents of California