Through her work in the World Bank and the State Department, Heumann led the mainstreaming of disability rights into international development.

The local public school refused to allow her to attend, calling her a fire hazard[6] due to her inability to walk.

"[13] At Camp Jened, Heumann met Bobbi Linn and Freida Tankus, both of whom she later worked with as disability rights activists.

[19] Heumann began making major moves toward rights for people with disabilities while attending Long Island University.

She organized rallies and protests with other students with and without disabilities, demanding access to her classrooms by ramps and the right to live in a dorm.

[8] In 1970, Heumann was denied her New York teaching license because the Board did not believe she could get herself or her students out of the building in case of a fire.

[7] Heumann received much mail from disabled people around the country due to press coverage of her suit against the Board of Education.

Early versions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 were vetoed by President Richard Nixon in October 1972 and March 1973.

[27] Ed Roberts asked Heumann to move to California to work for the Center for Independent Living, where she served as deputy director from 1975 to 1982.

[29] In 1977, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph Califano refused to sign meaningful regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first U.S. federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities.

[30] To force out protesters, he issued orders that no meals or medication be allowed in the HEW federal building.

[31] The protesters then contacted Delancey Street Foundation and The Salvation Army, which agreed to bring them food for the next day.

[31] After an ultimatum and deadline, demonstrations took place in ten U.S. cities on April 5, 1977, including the beginning of the 504 Sit-in at the San Francisco office of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

[33][34][35][36][37][38][39] Heumann co-founded the World Institute on Disability with Ed Roberts and Joan Leon in 1983, serving as co-director until 1993.

[43] In 2010, Heumann became the Special Advisor on International Disability Rights for the U.S. State Department appointed by President Barack Obama.

[3] "SDS confers the President's Award for artists and activists who embody the goals of the Society, reiterating our commitment to all kinds of work in disability studies.