Madeline Delp

In 1977, disability rights activist Judy Heumann made history by staging the longest sit-in at a federal building in U.S. history. For 26 days, she and over 100 fellow activists occupied the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare federal building in San Francisco, demanding that Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act—which prohibited discrimination and ensured access for people with disabilities—was finally enforced. So, why isn’t her name better known?

Written by Madeline Delp, Aeroflow Urology Brand Ambassador I was doing an interview recently for a podcast, and the host asked me how I built up enough confidence to compete in pageantry. I paused for a second and considered the question. How exactly did the little girl who was too scared to start a conversation muster enough courage and confidence to roll on stage in front of hundreds of people? The truth is, I had a low self-confidence that plagued me for years.

At a very young age, my life took an irreversible turn. As a result of a car accident at ten years old, I lost the use of my legs and control of my bladder. Facing incontinence and losing the use of my legs wasn't an easy task and still remains difficult today. However, upon finally gaining the courage to share the truth about my condition, I have been able to grow the confidence necessary to take control of my symptoms and make a difference for myself and others bound by their disabilities.