Fighting for YES!

July 15, 2022
An account of Judith Heumann's fight for equal rights for herself and others with disabilities. As a child in the early 1950s, Judy loved books. But the principal of the first school her mother signed her up for declared her and her wheelchair a "fire hazard," and the Jewish Day School's principal refused her even after she learned Hebrew. When she was finally permitted to attend public school in fourth grade, the segregated disabled students "weren't expected to learn much of anything at all." Faced with prejudiced attitudes and inaccessible spaces, Judy "heard the word NO much too often" growing up. But after winning a legal battle against the New York City Board of Education to become a teacher, Judy joined disabled friends in advocating for disability rights. She and fellow activists petitioned the government to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act--to ensure sidewalk ramps and bus lifts were installed and to make sure that buildings were wheelchair accessible--and finally, in 1977, after nationwide demonstrations, including a grueling 24-day sit-in at a San Francisco federal building, they succeeded. Cocca-Leffler's straightforward text relates Judy's challenges and triumphs, while Mildenberger's muted illustrations adequately if somewhat blurrily convey Judy's sadness, determination, and joy. An author's note provides more information on Heumann as well as background on Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a note from Heumann asks, "How will you start fighting for YES?" Judy presents White; background figures are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Uplifting and stirring. (sources, notes) (Picture-book biography. 6-9)

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August 1, 2022
Grades 1-3 This starts with all the times young Judith Heumann heard "NO!" because of her physical disability and use of a wheelchair. No to attending school until she was in fourth grade. No to accessing places that only had stairs and not ramps. No to becoming a teacher (at least until Heumann sued the New York City Board of Education). These experiences led Heumann to a career of fighting to increase accessibility and guarantee equal treatment for Americans with disabilities. A large portion of the book is dedicated to Heumann's activism on behalf of Rule 504, a precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibited groups receiving federal funds from discriminating against people with disabilities. Illustrations combine gouache painting and digital art to bring Heumann and her allies to life. Although the author clearly cares about the topic, the book doesn't quite capture Heumann's obvious warmth and passion, which, fortunately, do shine through in her note to the reader following the main text. Nevertheless, this is an informative portrait of an under-recognized activist.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 16, 2022

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. VERDICT A solid addition for the activism section of biography collections, or any shelf on women who made a difference in the realm of accessibility and equity.-V. Lynn Christiansen

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 10, 2022
Nostalgic illustrations and straightforward narration spotlight the path to advocacy for disability rights activist Judith Heumann (b. 1947) in this picture book biography. When Heumann, “a bright, talkative little girl” who loves books and music, tries to attend kindergarten in 1952, her family is told “NO” over and over again. One principal initially takes “one look at Judy’s wheelchair” and declares the child “a fire hazard.” At nine, Heumann is excited to learn in a classroom, only to find herself, and other “special-ed” students, “in the basement, away from everyone,” and as she matures, she finds that “stairs were everywhere... with no ramps” provided. At Camp Oakhurst, a summer camp for kids with disabilities, Heumann dreams “that someday the whole world would be like camp.” Graduating college and becoming a teacher, she encounters and combats hiring discrimination, leading to national advocacy and legal protections. Mildenberger’s stylized gouache and digital illustrations evoke the style of a personal diary. An afterword by Heumann concludes. Ages 6–9.