Being Heumann tells the story of disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann

A new film is bringing the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann to the screen, revisiting a landmark protest that helped push the US government towards stronger protections for disabled people.

Being Heumann stars Ruth Madeley as Heumann and is written and directed by Siân Heder, whose previous film CODA explored the experiences of a hearing child growing up in a Deaf family.

The drama centres on the 1977 occupation of a federal building in San Francisco, where Heumann and a coalition of disability rights activists demanded action on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The law prohibited disability discrimination in federally funded programmes, but campaigners were demanding that the government put its commitments into practice.

The occupation became a defining moment in the movement, with activists refusing to leave until their demands were taken seriously.

Who was Judy Heumann?

Heumann was one of the most influential figures in the modern disability rights movement. A wheelchair user who faced discrimination in education and employment, she spent decades challenging barriers that prevented disabled people from participating fully in public life.

Her campaigning helped make disability rights a national issue and contributed to a broader movement for equal access, independent living and legal protection.

The 1977 occupation brought together people with different disabilities and backgrounds in a sustained act of civil disobedience. Their campaign demonstrated how collective action could put pressure on officials and bring attention to barriers that had long been overlooked.

The film places those activists at the centre of the story, showing how a demand for equal treatment became a wider fight for recognition and change.

When can viewers watch Being Heumann?

Being Heumann will receive a limited cinema release on 6 November 2026 before arriving globally on Apple TV on 13 November.