Overland Park residents will have a chance to see a new film that shines a light on the early fight for disability civil rights. “Being Heumann,” co‑written by Johnson County author Rebekah Taussig, dramatizes the historic 1977 sit‑in in San Francisco led by activist Judy Heumann, a catalyst for the federal Section 504 provisions of the Rehabilitation Act.
Local roots, national impact
Taussig, a graduate of Shawnee Mission South, Johnson County Community College, UMKC and the University of Kansas, turned her 2020 memoir about living as a wheelchair user into a screenplay with Oscar‑winning director Siân Heder, known for “CODA.” “This story essentially tells the real‑life events of the wild, fierce fight for the very first bits of civil rights legislation for disabled people in the U.S.,” Taussig said.
What the film portrays
The movie depicts the roughly 25‑day protest, describing how federal officials tried to shut it down by turning off water and cutting phone lines. It also shows the ingenuity of deaf protesters who signed messages out the windows and the need for backup ventilators during the night‑time shutdown. Taussig emphasized that the film strives to present disabled characters as fully human, with humor, romance and even steamy moments, rather than one‑dimensional stereotypes.
Community event
Taussig will appear as an extra and will join a Q&A session after the screening. The event takes place Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Overland Park, with a streaming option on Apple TV beginning the same night. Tickets are available online.
Local arts supporters are encouraged to attend and celebrate a story that highlights both the perseverance of disabled activists and the power of community storytelling.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
