Legacy

Judy Heumann: Honoring the ‘Mother of the Disability Rights Movement’

Following the March 4 death of disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann, we curated a series of pieces to illustrate the overwhelming breadth of her legacy fighting for our community.  

We begin with an excerpt from her memoir that drops us into the most famous event of her career: the Section 504 sit-in in 1977. Fast forward to a 1986 interview with New Mobility founder Sam Maddox in which Heumann speaks about the importance of connecting with other disabled people. And for a post-ADA perspective, Emily Ladau shows Heumann cementing her legacy by actively mentoring the next generation of disability leaders. She changed the world — and made sure the rest of us will keep at it too. 

Products

Permobil Releases Mid-Wheel-Drive Standing Power Wheelchair

The newest power wheelchair from Permobil combines standing functionality with the maneuverability of a mid-wheel-drive base. The M Corpus VS features Permobil’s latest suspension system, new knee supports designed for easier use by those with limited hand function, and compatibility with a wide variety of seating options. 

Caption Contest Winner

We published this Mat Barton comic in our last newsletter and on Instagram, asking for your best satirical captions, and got over 100 responses. Here is our favorite: 

“Please walk over to customer service to report damaged items.”

Stephanie Wood, Harleysville, PA.

News

Paracycling World Cup Races to Be Held in U.S. for First Time

The Paracycling World Cup is a multistop international series that features the best disabled cyclists in the world, competing in road races, time trials and a team relay. On this Memorial Day weekend, the city of Huntsville, Alabama, will host the first U.S.-based edition, hoping to turn spectator-friendly racing into a community-wide event.  

Pro Tips

Six Tips for Styling Your Own Hair with Limited Hand Function

Jenny Smith quizzes fellow quad women on how they style their hair independently — or how they direct a caregiver to get the results they want. They offer tips on how to keep your hair clean when showering is difficult, the best styles for easy maintenance, the types of products that work best for those with limited hand function, and more.