Roland Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roland Johnson
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Jounson in 1993
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| Born | 14 September 1945 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Died | 28 August 1994 (aged 48) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Occupation | Disability rights activist |
| Known for | leader in the early Self-advocacy movement; former Pennhurst resident |
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Notable work
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Lost in a Desert World: An Autobiography (1999) |
Roland Johnson (1945–1994) was a strong leader who worked for the rights of people with disabilities. He was one of the people who started a group called Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE).
Roland lived for 13 years at a place called Pennhurst State School and Hospital. This was a large institution for people with disabilities. He was able to leave in 1971. This happened after a very important court case about the rights of people at Pennhurst.
Early Life and Challenges
Roland Johnson was born on September 14, 1945. He was the youngest of nine children in his family. His family lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother worked as a housekeeper. His father was an auto mechanic.
As a child, Roland stayed at home. Public schools at that time were not set up to help him learn. He often felt very hungry and would sometimes take food from stores. His family found it hard to care for him. Because of these difficulties, they decided to send him to Pennhurst.
Life at Pennhurst
In 1958, when Roland was 13 years old, his family decided he should go to Pennhurst State School and Hospital. He lived there for 13 years. He was 26 years old when he finally left in 1971.
Pennhurst was a large institution. Many people with disabilities lived there. Life inside Pennhurst was very difficult for many residents.
Becoming an Advocate
After leaving Pennhurst, Roland found it hard to adjust to life outside. He faced many challenges. Later, he joined a program that helped people with mental health needs. This program helped him a lot.
In the early 1980s, Roland started working with a group called Speaking for Ourselves. This group helped people with disabilities speak up for themselves. Roland became the president of the Philadelphia part of this group.
In 1990, Roland became a leader on a national committee. This committee worked on self-advocacy. In 1991, this group became Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE). Roland was a very important part of starting SABE. He worked hard to make sure people with disabilities had a voice.
His Legacy and Book
Roland Johnson passed away on August 29, 1994, at the age of 48. He died in a house fire.
Before he died, Roland told his life story. He made audio recordings with Karl Williams. His story was later published as a book in 2002. The book is called Lost in a Desert World: An Autobiography. It shares his experiences and his journey.
