Judith Heumann

We were beginning to see our lack of access as a problem with society, rather than our individual problem. From our perspective, disability was something that could happen to anyone at any time, and frequently did, so it was right for society to design its infrastructure and systems around this fact of life.

Then, in a matter-of-fact voice, in the same exact tone that she’d asked me to breathe in and breathe out, the doctor asked me to show her how I went to the bathroom.

When I drove my wheelchair into the doctor’s office, I saw two strange men already sitting in the room. Dr. James told me she had invited two other doctors to join in my medical exam.

With no introductions or any pretense of small talk, the three examined me together, firing a barrage of the same kinds of invasive questions: about my polio diagnosis, my medical history, my paralysis, and telling me, again, to walk for them. I had decided not to bring my crutches and braces. When I told the doctors this, I watched as Dr. James wrote something down.

Upside down on the form, I read her note: “Insubordinate.”