At the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), the ongoing exhibition ‘An Accessible City For All: Disability Rights,” celebrates disability history and honors these disability advocates: the late Judy Heumann, Jermaine Greaves and Denise McQuade.
Heumann was born in Brooklyn and according to her website, “At 18-months-old, Judy contracted polio in Brooklyn, New York and began to use a wheelchair for mobility.”
She is considered the “mother” of the Disability Rights movement, since in 1977 she led the 504 sit-in. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which stated that no program receiving federal funds could discriminate against a person with a disability, was based on previous civil rights laws.
According to the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), “Discrimination existed in education, employment, housing, transportation, access to public buildings and other facilities, access to equal medical care and in many other areas.”
Among many other things, Heumann also helped get the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) passed, along with McQuade and many other advocates. The law also established rules regarding discrimination of disabled people in these areas.
McQuade, who also had polio and later became a wheelchair user, helped make other necessary changes happen within the community. According to the United Spinal Association, she led the ADA Compliance Office of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the 1980s.
She also served as staff, and then the executive director of the Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled (BCID), where she worked on passing human rights legislation and the NYC accessible building code.
Greaves was born with cerebral palsy, and he is the founder of cerebral palsy (BDLM), which started early in the pandemic, following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others.
“I have always believed in using my platform to bring awareness and foster understanding for those living with disabilities,” he said.
Greaves’ work has been featured in various publications, including Office Magazine, which highlighted his efforts to promote the Black Disabled Lives Matter movement. He gained widespread attention for his viral wheelchair dancing videos, which were featured on Good Morning America, showcasing his positive spirit and dedication to spreading joy.
The funds raised through his GoFundMe campaign will help cover the costs of essential medical treatment that Greaves requires, as well as support his ongoing creative and advocacy work.
To support Greaves and his work, those interested can donate to the campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jermaine-greaves-fundraiser-for-medical-care.
The museum is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays-Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those interested in visiting the exhibit in-person can purchase tickets here: https://35948.blackbaudhosting.com/35948/tickets?tab=3&txobjid=1b87ef14-b89d-4a5c-803f-79124cc2bcd8
To support the work of MCNY, those interested can donate here: https://www.classy.org/give/538366/#!/donation/checkout.
