Judy Heumann/ 504

This portrait of the late disability activist, Judy Heumann, was created with rainbow colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and copic markers.  Inspired by my portrait of Temple Grandin, I decided to honor Judy Heumann as well. Behind her is a rainbow pattern with the numbers “504,” to represent her advocacy for a 504 plan- which brought inclusion to schools.  She participated in a “sit in” after then-secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Joseph Califano initially refused to sign regulations for Section 504, the first federal rights protections for people with disabilities.  After Heumann and other activists protested, Califano signed section 504 regulations into law.  Heumann is considered the “Godmother” of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which was passed in 1990.