Activist Judith Heumann, who worked for the rights of disabled people for over five decades, including under two presidential administrations, died Saturday at 75, her team confirmed. Heumann was an internationally recognized advocate for the rights of disabled people and her work had a lasting impact on the lives of millions of disabled people. She was born with polio, and required the use of a wheelchair from an early age. In 1970, she was denied a teaching license in New York City, with city officials arguing her wheelchair was a fire hazard. Heumann took legal action and eventually won a discrimination lawsuit against the city. This was just the beginning of her lifelong dedication to disability rights. She went on to serve as the Special Advisor for International Disability Rights for the Obama Administration, and was the first person with a disability to hold a Senate-confirmed position in the federal government. Heumann had also worked for the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of State. In 2018, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. “Judith was a pioneer and a tireless advocate,” said President Obama in a statement. “She dedicated her life to the cause of disability rights, and her efforts helped to make our country a better place for millions of Americans.” Heumann is survived by her husband, children, and grandchildren. Her legacy will live on in the work of disability rights activists around the world.