Judith Heumann, Advocate for People With Disabilities, to Receive Medtronic National Courage Award

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Mar 23, 2010, 02:11 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesota-based nonprofit Courage Center announced today that its 2010 Medtronic National Courage Award will be presented to Judith Heumann, director of the Department on Disability Services for the District of Columbia, where she is responsible for the Developmental Disability Administration and the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100323/CG75355)

The Medtronic National Courage Award, presented annually by Courage Center, recognizes an individual's outstanding contributions to the health, welfare and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. The award will be presented during the annual Celebration of Courage on Saturday, 11 September 2010, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Judith Heumann is an internationally recognized leader in the disability community and a lifelong civil rights advocate for disadvantaged people.

From 2002-2006, she served as the World Bank's first adviser on Disability and Development working to expand the Bank's knowledge and capability to work with governments and society to include disability issues in discussions with client countries. Prior to that, she served as assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the Department of Education. There, she was responsible for the implementation of national legislation for special education, disability research, vocational rehabilitation and independent living, serving more than 8 million youth and adults with disabilities.

Heumann graduated from Long Island University and received her Masters in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley. She was the first recipient of the Henry B. Betts Award in recognition of her efforts to significantly improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. In addition, she has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Long Island University in Brooklyn, an Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Illinois-Champaign, and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of Toledo.

"Courage Center is honored to present this award to Judy Heumann for her lifelong advocacy on behalf of children and adults with disabilities," said Jan Malcolm, CEO, Courage Center. "It's especially significant that she receive this award during the 20th anniversary year of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

The Act, also known as the ADA, is ground breaking, civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. The bipartisan legislation was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. Heumann is one of the many disability rights advocates who played a key role in passage of the ADA.

If you are interested in sponsoring a table or attending the Celebration of Courage, contact Jacob Johnson, at 763-520-0365 to learn more. [NOTE: A photo of Heumann is available upon request.]

About the National Courage Award

Since 1980, Courage Center has recognized individuals, who through either personal or professional achievements have made significant contributions to the disability community. Previous National Courage Award winners include Senator Bob Dole, Attorney General Janet Reno, journalist John Hockenberry, physics pioneer Stephen Hawking, research advocate Christopher Reeve and designer Michael Graves.

About Courage Center

Courage Center is a nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center that advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. At Courage Center, we specialize in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism, and disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Minneapolis-based Courage Center offers advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors. For more information, visit www.CourageCenter.org.