New film Being Heumann a triumph for disability representation

A new film, Being Heumann, is set to make a significant impact on disability representation on screen. The movie tells the story of Judith Heumann, a key figure in the American disability rights movement.

The film features a scene where Heumann, played by British actress Ruth Madeley, is seen driving her wheelchair down the middle of the road, flipping the bird to a bus driver. This moment is a pivotal one, marking the audience's first introduction to Heumann and the disability rights movement she helped lead.

The movie is based on Heumann's memoir and the 2020 documentary Crip Camp, which follows a group of youngsters who meet at a disability summer camp and go on to organise protests and campaigns to address systemic discrimination faced by disabled Americans.

Heumann died in 2023, aged 75, but her legacy lives on. The film is significant because it is created by people with lived experience of disability. Madeley, who has spina bifida, plays Heumann, while American disability activist Rebekah Taussig is the co-author of the screenplay.

This approach is important for two reasons. Firstly, stories about disability have often been written or created without consultation with people who have lived experience. Non-disabled actors have been encouraged to "crip up" to portray disabled characters, often resulting in inaccurate or stereotypical performances.

"Some of these performances have even garnered critical acclaim, such as the Oscar-winning turns of Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot (1989) and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man (1988)."

However, this approach can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. For example, the movie Me Before You (2016) was criticised for implying that disability inherently renders a person's life worthless.

The second benefit of giving disabled people the chance to tell disabled stories is that it allows for more nuanced and complex narratives. Typically, stories about disability fall into two categories: inspiration or tragedy. However, these types of narratives perpetuate misinformation and harmful stereotypes.

"They don't acknowledge the complexity and nuance of the disabled experience, and rarely centre on the disabled character themselves, instead rendering them a plot device in another able-bodied character's journey,"

There are examples of good disability representation, such as the Australian TV show Latecomers, which features multiple writers and actors with lived experience.

Being Heumann promises to be a true story of triumph after years of organising, struggle, and advocacy. It is a story of collective defiance and empowerment, of a revolution and the fearless leader at the centre of it.