Bill Text: NY J01118 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourning the death of Sally Johnston, a leader of the disability movement, distinguished citizen, and devoted member of her community

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 42-21)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-23 - ADOPTED [J01118 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01118-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 1118

BY: Senator MAY

        MOURNING  the death of Sally Johnston, a leader of
        the disability movement, distinguished citizen,  and
        devoted member of her community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life  in  their  communities  and  this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Sally Johnston of Syracuse, New York, died on May 10, 2023,
at the age of 80; and

  WHEREAS,  A  true  leader of the disability movement, Sally Johnston
started her career in advocacy in 1975 when she began volunteering at  a
new  community center; she worked with members of the community to build
relationships with county elected officials,  eventually  succeeding  in
getting  public office buildings made accessible throughout Syracuse and
Onondaga county; and

  WHEREAS, For 14 years, Sally Johnston worked with  advocates  across
Syracuse,  New  York  to  make buses accessible for all; she would go to
measures as far as chaining herself to buses and eventually won  in  her
fight to make buses in Syracuse accessible; and

  WHEREAS,  Getting  involved in long-term care, Sally Johnston called
for a demonstration program that  served  as  a  precursor  to  Consumer
Directed  Personal  Assistance  (CDPA)  to be made available in Onondaga
county; this program would pave the way for the statewide implementation
of CDPA; and

  WHEREAS, Having tirelessly devoted her  time  to  the  cause,  Sally
Johnston  played  a  vital  role  in  the  establishment of the Consumer
Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State; she was  the
first  Board  President  of  CDPAANYS  and was dedicated to ensuring the
organization was built on a strong foundation; and

  WHEREAS, Sally Johnston continued to faithfully serve  the  CDPAANYS
until her retirement; and

  WHEREAS, Her legacy lives on, in 2011, Sally Johnston was honored by
CDPAANYS  with  the  Advocacy  Award,  which  was  renamed  to The Sally
Johnston Award for Advocacy; in 2022, she was recognized further for her
work when she was inducted into the  Disability  Rights  Hall  of  Fame,
created and run by the New York State Independent Living Council; and

  WHEREAS,  Sally Johnston distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; improving the quality of life  for  others  and  enabling
them to build lives of dignity and self-worth; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Sally Johnston leaves behind a legacy which will long endure

the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory  to  all  she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Sally Johnston, a leader of the disability  movement,
distinguished  citizen,  and  devoted member of her community; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Sally Johnston.