A Message from Theo Braddy: Honoring Judy Heumann: Her Spirit Lives On

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Hello, this is Theo Braddy, executive director of NCIL. In every message that I share, my goal is always the same: to educate, motivate, and advocate. This month, I’ve decided to try something a little different. As many of you know, I’m in the process of writing my autobiography. While finishing a book takes time, sharing pieces of my journey with you can happen right here.

Starting now, I’ll be including short, real-life stories from what will one day become my published book. The first story is entitled: “Honoring Judy Heumann: Her Spirit Lives On.”

It has been just over two years since we lost Judy, a true pioneer of disability rights and the woman the world rightly calls the Mother of the Disability Rights Movement. Judy passed away on March 4, 2023 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 75.

I had only been hired at NCIL as the new executive director a few months before Judy’s passing. My last conversation with her was filled with hope, and we talked about bringing the younger generation of disability leaders together with the older generation, uniting our collective wisdom and energy. We were ready to plan, ready to dream. But those meetings never happened. Judy passed away before we could make them real.

About a month before NCIL’s 2023 Independent Living Conference, I received a call from Judy’s assistant right after her passing. Judy had wished to donate two of her spare motorized wheelchairs to NCIL and her assistant wanted to know if I would accept them. Well, of course, without hesitation, I said yes.

As the conference drew closer, I made the trip from Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. with my driver and attendant to pick up these historic chairs. The entire drive, my thoughts were heavy yet in awe. I was going to the home of a legend, a leader I deeply admired but would never again see in person. I was going to meet her husband, Jorge, and bring back two motorized wheelchairs that Judy herself had used to shape history.

Unless you are a motorized wheelchair user, it is hard to understand the profound connection we have with our chairs. They are not just devices; they are an inseparable part of us. Without them, we are exposed and vulnerable. We guard them, we keep them close when we sleep, our chairs sleep and recharge right beside us as we sleep and recharge every night, we grieve when they fail us. Replacing one is never simple; even when we do, we hold on to the old ones because they carry our struggles, our victories, and identity. I once kept a chair in my garage for over eight years. My wife never asked me to throw it out — she knew what it meant.

Now I was about to receive the wheelchairs of Judy Heumann, the Mother of Independent Living, and she kept another chair for reasons I instinctively understood.

When I knocked on Judy’s door, her assistant greeted me warmly and led me inside. While I waited for Jorge , I sat alone in the living room, surrounded by walls covered in photographs of Judy with leaders from every era of our movement. It felt like stepping into a living museum of Independent Living history. I felt an uneasiness I still can’t explain, knowing this was a rare, sacred moment meant only for memory. Taking photos would have felt like a dishonor to Judy’s legacy.

Jorge joined me shortly afterward. We exchanged introductions and shared some small talk. I invited him to the upcoming NCIL Conference, hoping he might join us as we presented the Judy Heumann Award. He said he would try, but I could see in his eyes that his strength was fading.

Then the moment came. Two motorized wheelchairs were shown to me. Judy had three; one now resides at the Smithsonian, and the remaining two were entrusted to me. My attendant and I carefully loaded them, making two trips because only one could fit in my van at a time. One was placed in storage, and the other was brought to the Grand Hyatt to be displayed on stage throughout the 2023 IL Conference.

That conference was my very first as NCIL’s Executive Director. To have Judy’s wheelchair there, beside me, beside all of us, it was more than symbolic. It was as if Judy herself were present, her spirit woven into every moment, every conversation, every rallying cry.

For wheelchair users, our chairs are an extension of who we are. And that week, with Judy’s chair on stage, it felt like she was still leading us forward, reminding us of where we’ve been and urging us to keep pushing, together, toward true independence and justice. “Her spirit lives on in every fight for justice.”

This is Theo Braddy, Executive Director of NCIL. Bye-bye now.

Theo Braddy
Executive Director
National Council on Independent Living

A collage of six photos. 1: A headshot of Judy Heumann, smiling warmly and looking up toward the camera. 2: A black and white photo of a young Judy Heumann as she speaks into a microphone. She is wearing a Sign 504 sticker. 3: Judy and her dear friend Marca Bristo put their heads together and smile brightly for a photo during NCIL’s 2012 Annual Conference. Marca is wearing a sticker that says “Ratify CRPD – YES!” 4: Kelly Buckland and Judy Heumann pose for a photo at the 2013 Inaugural Ball. They are wearing formal attire and are surrounded by other partygoers. 5: Judy Heumann, Marca Bristo, Justin Dart, and many others lead a march. A large banner says “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere – Martin Luther King, Jr.” 6: Image: Judy Heumann, Kelly Buckland, and many others lead the 2018 NCIL March to the Capitol. They are wearing ponchos and leading chants while marching in the pouring rain. Anna L-T is pushing Justin Dart’s wheelchair next to them.

About NCIL

NCIL is the longest-running national cross-disability grassroots organization, driven by and dedicated to people with disabilities. Since its founding in 1982, NCIL has represented thousands of organizations and individuals, advocating tirelessly for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities across the United States.