Roland Johnson (1945 – 1994) was an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and one of the founders of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE). He spent 13 years institutionalized at Pennhurst State School and Hospital, until he was released in 1971 following the civil rights case, Halderman v. Pennhurst State School and Hospital.
Johnson was born 14 September 1945.[1] He was the youngest of nine children – six girls and three boys. He and one sister, Madeleine, were born twins, but in both cases the twin sibling died in their infancy.[2] The Johnson family lived in a three-bedroom house, first on Ellsworth Street across from the Christian Union Church in South Philadelphia, then later at 2435 North Cleveland Street in North Philadelphia.[3] Johnson's mother worked as a housekeeper and his father as an auto mechanic.[4] Vera, the oldest child, was often in charge of the house, watching the younger siblings, preparing meals and making sure the chores got done.[5]
As a child, Johnson stayed at home because public schools were unable or unwilling to accommodate him. He often stole food from stores due to his insatiable appetite. To punish him, his mother would heat a knife on the stove and burn his hand with it. It became clear that the family was unable to care for a disabled child, so they decided to send him to Pennhurst.[1]
Pennhurstedit
In 1958, when Johnson was 13 years old, his mother consulted with other family members and decided that she was no longer capable of handling Johnson's growing discipline problems. They decided to commit him to Pennhurst State School and Hospital,[6] where he would live for 13 years, until he was released in 1971 at the age of 26.
Advocacyedit
After his release from Pennhurst, he went through a difficult transition back to the outside world. After a series of illnesses, he joined a psychiatric day program that helped improve his life. In the early 1980s, Johnson became involved with a self-advocacy organization called Speaking for Ourselves, eventually becoming the president of the Philadelphia chapter.[1]
In 1990 Johnson became one of two representatives from the Northeast to the National Steering Committee on Self Advocacy, which in August 1991 became the board of directors of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE).[7]
Deathedit
Johnson died August 29, 1994, at the age of 48, in a house fire.[1]
Lost in a Desert Worldedit
Johnson told his autobiography as an oral history in a series of audio recordings made by Karl Williams. It was published posthumously in 2002 as Lost in a Desert World.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdRifkin, Glenn (2020-07-31). "Overlooked No More: Roland Johnson, Who Fought to Shut Down Institutions for the Disabled". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
^"Lost In a Desert World". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
Bibliographyedit
Downey, Dennis B.; Conroy, James W., eds. (2020). Pennhurst and the Struggle for Disability Rights. Pennsylvania: Keystone Books. ISBN978-0271086033.
Friedman, Mark; Beckwith, Ruthie-Marie (2014). "Self-Advocacy: The Emancipation Movement Led by People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities". In Ben-Moshe, Liat; Chapman, Chris; Carey, Allison C. (eds.). Disability Incarcerated. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 237–254. doi:10.1057/9781137388476_13. ISBN978-1-137-40405-3.
Johnson, Roland (1994). Lost in a Desert World: The Autobiography of Roland Johnson. as told to Karl Williams. Philadelphia, Penn.: Speaking for Ourselves. ISBN0-9672256-0-4.
Obermayer, Liz; Perske, Robert; Probst, Melissa (December 2000). "Book Reviews: Lost in a Desert World: An Autobiography". Mental Retardation. American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 38 (6): 539–546. doi:10.1352/0047-6765(2000)038<0539:BR>2.0.CO;2.
Rifkin, Glenn (31 July 2020). "Overlooked No More: Roland Johnson, Who Fought to Shut Down Institutions for the Disabled". The New York Times.
Wallace, Andy (31 August 1994). "Obituary: Roland Johnson, 48; Advocate Fought For Rights Of The Disabled". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Penn. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
External linksedit
"Who's in Control?", keynote speech by Roland Johnson at the third international People First Conference, 14 June 1993.
i go home, a documentary about former residents and the closure of Pennhurst; includes a segment on Johnson.
Finding Aid for the Speaking for Ourselves Papers held at the Pennsylvania History Coalition Honoring People with Disability (PHCHPD).
Visionary Voices, a collection of oral history interviews with leaders of Pennsylvania's intellectual disability rights movement at Temple University, Institute on Disabilities.
Roland Johnson's panel is in block number 03798 of the NAMES Project, AIDS Memorial Quilt.
November 13, 2023
roland, johnson, 1945, 1994, advocate, rights, people, with, disabilities, founders, self, advocates, becoming, empowered, sabe, spent, years, institutionalized, pennhurst, state, school, hospital, until, released, 1971, following, civil, rights, case, halderm. Roland Johnson 1945 1994 was an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and one of the founders of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered SABE He spent 13 years institutionalized at Pennhurst State School and Hospital until he was released in 1971 following the civil rights case Halderman v Pennhurst State School and Hospital Roland JohnsonJounson in 1993Born 1945 09 14 14 September 1945Philadelphia PennsylvaniaDied28 August 1994 1994 08 28 aged 48 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaOccupationDisability rights activistKnown forleader in the early Self advocacy movement former Pennhurst residentNotable workLost in a Desert World An Autobiography 1999 Johnson presenting President George Bush with an award in recognition of his enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 January 12 1993 Contents 1 Childhood 2 Pennhurst 3 Advocacy 4 Death 5 Lost in a Desert World 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksChildhood editJohnson was born 14 September 1945 1 He was the youngest of nine children six girls and three boys He and one sister Madeleine were born twins but in both cases the twin sibling died in their infancy 2 The Johnson family lived in a three bedroom house first on Ellsworth Street across from the Christian Union Church in South Philadelphia then later at 2435 North Cleveland Street in North Philadelphia 3 Johnson s mother worked as a housekeeper and his father as an auto mechanic 4 Vera the oldest child was often in charge of the house watching the younger siblings preparing meals and making sure the chores got done 5 As a child Johnson stayed at home because public schools were unable or unwilling to accommodate him He often stole food from stores due to his insatiable appetite To punish him his mother would heat a knife on the stove and burn his hand with it It became clear that the family was unable to care for a disabled child so they decided to send him to Pennhurst 1 Pennhurst editIn 1958 when Johnson was 13 years old his mother consulted with other family members and decided that she was no longer capable of handling Johnson s growing discipline problems They decided to commit him to Pennhurst State School and Hospital 6 where he would live for 13 years until he was released in 1971 at the age of 26 Advocacy editAfter his release from Pennhurst he went through a difficult transition back to the outside world After a series of illnesses he joined a psychiatric day program that helped improve his life In the early 1980s Johnson became involved with a self advocacy organization called Speaking for Ourselves eventually becoming the president of the Philadelphia chapter 1 In 1990 Johnson became one of two representatives from the Northeast to the National Steering Committee on Self Advocacy which in August 1991 became the board of directors of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered SABE 7 Death editJohnson died August 29 1994 at the age of 48 in a house fire 1 Lost in a Desert World editJohnson told his autobiography as an oral history in a series of audio recordings made by Karl Williams It was published posthumously in 2002 as Lost in a Desert World 8 References edit a b c d Rifkin Glenn 2020 07 31 Overlooked No More Roland Johnson Who Fought to Shut Down Institutions for the Disabled The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2020 08 02 Johnson 1994 p 6 Johnson 1994 pp 3 4 Johnson 1994 p 5 Johnson 1994 pp 5 6 Johnson 1994 pp 18 19 Obermayer Perske amp Probst 2000 p 540 Lost In a Desert World www goodreads com Retrieved 2020 09 01 Bibliography editDowney Dennis B Conroy James W eds 2020 Pennhurst and the Struggle for Disability Rights Pennsylvania Keystone Books ISBN 978 0271086033 Friedman Mark Beckwith Ruthie Marie 2014 Self Advocacy The Emancipation Movement Led by People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities In Ben Moshe Liat Chapman Chris Carey Allison C eds Disability Incarcerated Palgrave Macmillan pp 237 254 doi 10 1057 9781137388476 13 ISBN 978 1 137 40405 3 Johnson Roland 1994 Lost in a Desert World The Autobiography of Roland Johnson as told to Karl Williams Philadelphia Penn Speaking for Ourselves ISBN 0 9672256 0 4 Obermayer Liz Perske Robert Probst Melissa December 2000 Book Reviews Lost in a Desert World An Autobiography Mental Retardation American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 38 6 539 546 doi 10 1352 0047 6765 2000 038 lt 0539 BR gt 2 0 CO 2 Rifkin Glenn 31 July 2020 Overlooked No More Roland Johnson Who Fought to Shut Down Institutions for the Disabled The New York Times Wallace Andy 31 August 1994 Obituary Roland Johnson 48 Advocate Fought For Rights Of The Disabled Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Penn Retrieved 28 June 2016 External links edit Who s in Control keynote speech by Roland Johnson at the third international People First Conference 14 June 1993 i go home a documentary about former residents and the closure of Pennhurst includes a segment on Johnson Finding Aid for the Speaking for Ourselves Papers held at the Pennsylvania History Coalition Honoring People with Disability PHCHPD Visionary Voices a collection of oral history interviews with leaders of Pennsylvania s intellectual disability rights movement at Temple University Institute on Disabilities Roland Johnson s panel is in block number 03798 of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roland Johnson amp oldid 1166978704, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
