2 publishers · first seen Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:45 UTC · updated Fri, 06 Nov 2026 19:20 UTC
A new film, 'Being Heumann', directed by Siân Heder, tells the story of Judy Heumann, a disability rights pioneer who led a sit-in in 1977 at the San Francisco offices of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The protest aimed to pressure the government to implement federal disability rights legislation. The film, which opened in theaters on November 6 and will premiere on Apple TV on November 13, features Ruth Madeley as Heumann and Mark Ruffalo as Joseph Califano, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare at the time.
Heumann, who contracted polio as an infant, was a key figure in the disability rights movement. The film highlights the importance of authentic representation, with Heder emphasizing the significance of casting actors who have lived experiences similar to those they portray.
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