In Memoriam: Harriet McBryde Johnson

Attorney and activist Harriet McBryde Johnson has passed away.

Harriet became a civil rights attorney as a result of dealing with disability issues, according to the article. She also authored a number of books, including an autobiography and a children's book. I remember her for the NY Times article encapsulating her visit with Peter Singer called Unspeakable Conversations and her Slate article entitled Not Dead At All, defending Congress' reaction to Terri Schiavo and this one: I Might be In Terri's Bed Soon.

Publisher's Weekly wrote about her autobiography, entitled Too Late to Die Young, what I will leave here as a tribute:

Johnson, who was born with a congenital neuromuscular disease, wants kids with disabilities to grow up "prepared to survive," not merely waiting to die. Equally problematic for the spirited lawyer are media heroes like the late Christopher Reeve, who revived "telethon melodrama" by displaying himself as "a disability object, presumably tragic but brave, someone to gawk at." Johnson, whose law practice specializes in disability advocacy, has a personal assistant, a motorized wheelchair and a supportive circle of family and friends that make her active, satisfying life possible. Readers inclined to feel sorry for people with disabilities, to offer them prayers or a pat on the head—Johnson has endured both—should spare them the very real burden of providing "disability awareness training to everyone who happens by," and read Johnson's feisty book instead.
via Amazon.com

She will be remembered by many as a trailblazer, a role model and a beloved friend. Her family and friends are in my prayers.
[visual description: A photo of Harriet McBryde Johnson is shown. She is seated in her wheelchair, looking forward, her right hand up to her chin, smiling.]

UPDATE: Her obit in the NY Times is here.