The University of California, Berkeley has announced that its new student housing project at People’s Park will be named Judith E. Heumann House. The building is set to honor the late disability rights leader Judith Heumann, who passed away in 2023 and earned her master’s degree from Berkeley’s School of Public Health in 1975.
Heumann was a central figure in the Disability Rights Movement, playing a key role in a 26-day sit-in at a federal building in San Francisco. This action led lawmakers to sign regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Her advocacy also contributed to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Some people say that what I did changed the world,” Heumann wrote in her 2020 memoir, Being Heumann. “But really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.”
Rick Heumann, her brother, said he hopes those who see her name on the building will reflect on its significance and learn more about the movement she helped start.
“Judy didn’t do stuff for Judy,” he said. “Judy did stuff to make a difference in the world.”
Judith Heumann contracted polio as a child and faced barriers throughout her life due to accessibility challenges and discriminatory policies. She successfully challenged such obstacles; after being denied a teaching license because she was deemed a “fire hazard,” she filed suit and ultimately obtained her credentials.
Her leadership is featured in various books and interviews as well as the documentary film Crip Camp, which highlights how experiences at a summer camp for teens with disabilities spurred broader advocacy for equity.
HolLynn D’Lil noted that these efforts resulted in more inclusive environments not only for people with disabilities but also for families with strollers and others who benefit from accessible infrastructure.
“People take things for granted,” Rick Heumann said. “The things they did have made your life that much easier to be able to live.”
The development—referred to as “Heumann House”—will provide housing for over 1,100 undergraduates, mainly juniors and seniors at Berkeley. Many rooms are designed or can be modified for full accessibility. Rick Heumann emphasized this aspect: “That’s one of the reasons why we’re so supportive… Having something that’s fully accessible.”
UC Berkeley intends to keep two-thirds of People’s Park as public green space while dedicating part of the site to undergraduate housing and permanent supportive units for very low-income or formerly unhoused individuals.
The process of naming began earlier this year when campus officials solicited suggestions; four separate proposals recommended honoring Judith Heumann. After review by a subcommittee and consultation with her family, campus leaders finalized their decision this week.
“I think this honoring signals recognition of her brilliance, yes, but also how astute and effective she was in making concrete differences in the lives of real people,” said Ella Callow, assistant vice chancellor for disability rights at Berkeley. “This is, essentially, Berkeley exceptionalism. It is us producing scholars who truly create sea changes, for the better, for everyone.”
Construction crews recently placed steel beams marking completion of the building’s frame; work now shifts toward finishing exterior elements along with mechanical and electrical systems. Kyle Gibson from UC Berkeley stated that further updates about both housing features and park design will be provided soon: “Today, we’re excited to share the news about Heumann House… We look forward to sharing additional updates in the months ahead.”
Heumann House will stand about one mile from Ed Roberts Campus—a center named after another prominent disability rights leader associated with Berkeley.
Reflecting on his sister’s legacy following tributes such as an event at The White House and conversations during travel afterward—where strangers recognized Judith Heumann’s name—Rick Heumann noted:
“Her dash resonated throughout the world,” he said.
“Her reach is very far and wide,” he added, “and it’s because she cared about a lot of people and she made a difference in the world.”
