ROLAND JOHNSON
(1945-1994)

Pennhurst State School .................................................................................1958-1971

Participant, CCH Partial Hospitalization Day Program ...................................1978

President Philadelphia Chapter of Speaking For Ourselves ..................... ......1985

President Board of Directors of Speaking For Ourselves ...............................1986-1990

Trainer in Self-Advocacy, Connecticut ..........................................................1986

Speech: "Why Self-Advocates" at People First of Canada .............................1986
Canada National Retreat, Toronto

Speech: "Real Jobs In The Community" at Speaking For Ourselves ................1986
4th Annual Conference, Philadelphia

Speech: "The Role of Advocacy" at American Association ............................ 1986
of Mental Retardation, Denver (First formal presentation
by a person with disabilities to the oldest professional
organization concerned with this disability)

Speech at New York State Service Providers ...............................................1986
Conference, Albany

Guest Lecturer, Graduate School of Social Work ........................................ .1986-1991
at University of Pennsylvania and at Temple University

Keynote Speaker at Pennhurst Closing Ceremony .........................................1987

Guest on WHYY-FM in connection with the closing ......................................1987
of Pennhurst, Philadelphia

"A Just Reward For Perseverance" - subject of article ...................................1987
by Steve Lopez for Philadelphia Inquirer

Trainer for National Park Service, Philadelphia ..............................................1988

Co-Facilitator: Second Annual Leadership Retreat, .......................................1988
Fellowship Farm

Consultant for Work Interview Project at Temple ..........................................1988
University (hired to survey peers regarding satisfaction
with jobs in sheltered workshops).

Interview: "In Touch" (speaks with PA Secretary of Public ............................1988
Welfare about community living on a videotape which
was used in training for 42,000 state employees)

Testimony given in Federal Court, Philadelphia regarding ...............................1989
impact of funding crisis on plaintiffs in the on-going
Pennhurst case

Award: Consumer Participation in Five State Region, ....................................1989
American Association of Mental Retardation

Key Player in activity leading to Federal Court case which .............................1989
resulted in people leaving Pinehill

Co-Sponsor Voter Training with League of Women Voters, ..........................1989
Philadelphia

Speech: National Accreditation Council on Developmental ............................1989
Disabilities, Virginia

Award: "Advocate of the Year," Montgomery County ...................................1989
Association for Retarded Citizens

Co-Facilitator of Retreat sponsored by PA Office of Mental .........................1990
Retardation, Hershey

Special Guest: White House Ceremony at Signing of American ......................1990
With Disabilities Act

Speech: Self-Advocacy Session of American Association of ..........................1990
Mental Retardation Conference, Atlanta

Key Participant in Peer Interview Project, published as "Hiring ......................1990
Consumers to Interview Consumers About Day Program
Satisfaction and Hopes: A Pilot Test" by University of Haifa
OMNAH Association for Developmental Disabled People

Speech: "The Role of Self-Advocacy" at First National People First ... ..........1990
Conference, Denver

Elected North East Representative to National Steering Committee ...............1991
on Self-Advocacy, Denver

Keynote Speaker: President's Committee on Mental Retardation, ..................1991
25th Anniversary, Washington

Speech: "Report on National Steering Committee" at Second ........................1991
National People First Conference, Nashville

Leader: PA State-Wide Self-Advocacy Leadership Retreat ..........................1991 & 1992
Fellowship Farm

Speaks on HIV/AIDS and People With Disabilities ......................................1992-1993
as Consultant for Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care
to both disability and AIDS groups

Trainer at PA State-Wide Self-Advocacy Leadership Retreat .......................1992
Fellowship Farm

Speech: "Sounding the Warning: HIV Disease and Persons With ...................1992
Disabilities" at American Association on Mental Retardation
Conference, New Orleans

Interviewed for CNN's "Special Assignment" ................................................1993

Presents Award to President Bush in connection with the A.D.A. ..................1993
(Broadcast on "Nightline")

Speech: "HIV/AIDS: Practical Approaches to Prevention and .......................1993
Service Delivery" at "Everyday Lives" State-Wide Conference
sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Speech: "Who's In Control?" at Third International People First ............. .......1993
Conference, Toronto

Re-Elected President of Board of Directors, Speaking For Ourselves ............1993
(step down for health reasons)

Dies as a result of an accidental fire ...............................................................1994


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Last updated: December, 1996