What Judith Heumann Taught Me about Naysaying the Naysayers
Last weekend, I promised myself I'd finish Judith Heumann's autobiography, "Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist." By Sunday afternoon, I'd finished the book and had Post-Itted countless passages of Judith's lifelong fight for a more accessible world.
A few hours later, I logged on to LinkedIn, where I discovered that Judith Heumann had just passed away at the age of 75.
I'd like to honor her memory by sharing sections of "Being Heumann" that deal with those who stood in Judith's way toward making the world more accessible and inclusive. The naysayers seemed to fall into two categories:
Those who said no from the get-go
Those who didn't want to appear ableist (which kept them from saying no), but were gravely concerned over consequences of making any accommodations (which kept them from saying yes)
Judith explains the first group's MO: "The truth is, the status quo loves to say no. It is the easiest thing in the world to say no, especially in the world of business and finance" (p. 152). For these naysayers, it's easier to say no than to spend time, money, and effort on ramps, sign language interpreters, or assistive devices.
The second group of naysayers seem to be unduly focused on "what ifs" when it comes to the inclusion of disabled people. While working for the World Bank, Heumann faced one of these naysayers. This particular one was concerned over a participant with a motorized wheelchair and a ventilator at their event in Paris. "What if something went wrong?" was the overarching fear of this World Bank employee.
Heumann gave a pointed retort in a way that only she could -- explaining that Paris has a not-too-shabby healthcare system that has most likely treated patients with wheelchairs and ventilators. (I fell in love with her wit in the documentary Crip Camp. If you've seen the doc, you can only imagine how she responded to this naysayer!)
I've been in CBT therapy, so I would also propose to this second naysayer (who exhibits the "worst case scenario" tendencies that I'm working hard to shed): What if NOTHING happens with the participant's medical condition during the forum? How would attending that event enrich his experience -- and how would his participation positively impact the event's other attendees?
"Being Heumann" immediately naysays the naysayers of both stripes. As early as p. 7, she declared:
“Most things are possible when you assume problems can be solved.”
Throughout her life, Heumann took this mantra to make indoor spaces (public transportation, public and private buildings, workplaces, government administrations) more equitable for those with disabilities. My intention with DEIB Outdoors is to apply this mantra to the outdoors -- highlighting those who naysay the naysayers and work toward making nature more inclusive for all to enjoy.
Welcome!
