More About Dion & The Dion Johnson Foundation

The Dion Johnson Foundation, Inc. was established in 1999 to honor and further the legacy of a young man who was paralyzed from a high school football accident in 1993 and who tragically passed away in August 1999. Dion Johnson was a hardworking and ambitious young man who educated people through his words and deeds, believing that “being disabled does not mean that you aren’t able”. Dion graduated from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in May 1999. He worked as an intern for the Sports Department at WJLA-TV7 and later began to work as a producer/reporter for the I-Team. His first person account of life as a young man in a wheelchair drew critical acclaim just before his untimely death. He was also an active member of the Prince George’s County Public Schools Superintendent’s Special Education Advisory Committee. Dion’s belief that we can heal our world by educating our communities will live on through the Dion Johnson Communication & Educational Center which has been established at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Washington, D.C. This information and technology center has enriched the learning environment for patients and their families by providing them with videos, accessible computer stations and literature about various treatments for certain disabilities. In 2011 the center will expand to provide a greater array of assistance and access for patients as part of the 25th anniversary of NRH.

A second mission of the Foundation identifies spinal cord research facilities and makes annual contributions to support researchers in the field. It began in 2001 with $10,000 contribution was presented to Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D., Director and Senior Research Career Scientist of the Center of Excellence for Wheelchairs and Related Technology. Dr, Cooper has been a pioneer in the walking wheelchair development. Since it’s inception the Foundation has donated over $50,000 in research dollars.

The Foundation also supports the Dion Johnson Communication Center at Dion’s alma mater, Frederick Douglass High School, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This center houses the TV Media Production classes and with nearly $40,000.00 dollars of improvements. The Foundation also provides scholarships to deserving high school students who wish to further their education in the communications field. The scholarship fund has provided over $20,000 in donations to those starting their college careers.

Your generous donations are vital to the expanded mission as the foundation enters it’s second decade.