Posted: 7/17/02

Johnson wins MDA award

Rebecca A. Johnson of Forest Lake has been named recipient of the Muscular Dystrophy Associationís 2002 Personal Achievement Award for Minnesota and is a finalist for the national MDA award.

Johnson, 30, was selected for the honor because of her professional achievements and her commitment to others who are affected by neuromuscular diseases.

The honor is part of MDAís annual national award program recognizing the personal and professional accomplishments and community service of people with any of the neuromuscular diseases in MDAís program.

Johnson runs a successful graphic design business called Design Friends from her home, a venture she began after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1995.

She prides herself on her ability to find resources and solutions for living with a disability, whether forging her way in her education and career or navigating through a sea of red tape to secure her first motorized wheelchair.

Johnson also taps her creativity in making accommodations and adaptations to her working and living spaces, both parts of a wheelchair-accessible home she designed and built with her lifelong friend and partner, Curt Miers.

She enjoys traveling and maintaining the 8 acres that surround her home.

ìRebecca Johnson provides a wonderful example of the personal accomplishments and community contributions being made by thousands of people with neuromuscular diseases across the country,î MDA President & CEO Robert Ross said.

ìWeíre proud to honor her as Minnesota MDA Personal Achievement Award recipient for 2002. Itís our hope that recognition of her achievements will help to raise awareness of the vital, constructive roles that people with disabilities play in our society.î

Johnson is involved in many aspects of MDA. In 1998 she founded Club MD, an active MDA support group with more than 30 members, which she facilitates. Johnson also designs and typesets the local MDA newsletter and other materials.

Johnson received a diagnosis of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy at age 14.

The progressive disorder causes weakness and wasting initially affecting the shoulder and hip muscles. The disease also affects her sister.

Johnson uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility.

Each of MDAís 150-plus chapters nationwide selected an achievement award recipient from local nominees this year. Johnson received the award from MDAís Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter and was then chosen for the state award from among all local honorees in Minnesota.

The other finalists for the national award are Amy Dunaway-Haney of Dayton, OH; Edward Long of Kihei, HI and Jane Nemke of Tomahawk, WI.

The national honoree will be announced on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon Sept. 1- 2, broadcast locally on KSTC, Channel 45.

MDAís 2002 national award recipient is George Donahue of Watertown, MA, an information analyst whoís an advocate for and a mentor to people with disabilities.

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. MDA maintains a clinic for area adults and children affected by neuromuscular diseases at Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis.

The Associationís programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.

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