‘Being Heumann’ Team Discusses Making Its Film Set Accessible

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  At Deadline’s Contenders London event, producer Kevin Walsh and director Siân Heder discussed creating an accessible production environment for Being Heumann.

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  The Apple Original Films feature tells the story of disability-rights advocate Judy Heumann, played by Ruth Madeley.

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  The film focuses on the 1977 occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building, when more than 100 disabled people held a 28-day sit-in demanding enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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  Walsh said the production had 10 disabled leads and adapted ramps and hair and makeup trailers to make the set accessible.

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  Heder said she became interested in Heumann’s story after a friend who worked on the documentary Crip Camp recommended it, and after Heder read Heumann’s memoir.

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  The film debuted at TIFF last month, screens this week at the London Film Festival, opens in select theaters on November 6 and arrives on Apple TV on November 13.

Who

Producer Kevin Walsh and director Siân Heder discussed the film; Ruth Madeley plays Judy Heumann.

What

A discussion of the film Being Heumann and efforts to make its production accessible.

When

At Deadline’s Contenders London event on October 10, 2026.

Where

London; the film’s story centers on the San Francisco Federal Building.

Why

The production aimed to tell Judy Heumann’s story while creating an accessible environment for disabled cast and crew.

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