Judi Johnny, outspoken Yukon advocate on social justice, dies at 65
Judi Johnny was well known in Whitehorse, both for her advocacy for people with disabilities and for cruising all over town in her motorized chair, even during adverse weather conditions.
Judi Johnny, a strong advocate for people with disabilities in the Yukon, has died.
Johnny, 65, died Wednesday night at Whitehorse General Hospital.
She was seen regularly around Whitehorse in her motorized chair and used every opportunity to speak out about disability rights.
"I was born with a disability," Johnny said in a 2011 interview.
"I've been disabled all my life, that's just a physical sense, because I've hardly ever thought of that as a major inconvenience, I thought of trying to get the services as an inconvenience, but not my disability," she said.
Johnny had post-polio syndrome, cerebral palsy and arthritis. As a result, she had been using a wheelchair for 25 years.