A Champion of True Inclusion: Honoring the Life and Work of John O'Brien

The disability rights movement lost one of its visionary leaders when John O'Brien passed away on June 27, 2025. For decades, O'Brien and his wife Connie Lyle O'Brien championed a simple belief: that every person deserves to be fully included in community life. His groundbreaking work changed how we think about disability. It moved goals beyond basic accommodations to pursue full community belonging. Belonging in schools, neighborhoods, and everyday conversations. He emphasized the importance of listening to people with disabilities and their families and learning from their experiences.  

This trailblazing way of thinking became the foundation for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Real Communities projects. These projects were intentionally inclusive and welcomed the gifts and talents of community members with disabilities. These person-centered methods continue to guide disability advocates worldwide. 

His legacy lives in countless communities where inclusion is not an ideal, it's a reality. Members of the disability community shared their memories of O’Brien and what he meant to them.

Jack Pierpoint, Co-Director of Inclusion Press

John was an amazing listener who crafted those stories into workshops, exercises, articles, and books. His wisdom shepherded thousands of us to join the battles for de-institutionalization. Our world is in a challenging phase, but because of the life of John O’Brien, the world is a better place for all of us.

Lynda Kahn, Co- Director of Inclusion Press

John was generously curious to learn more about what you cared about and why. I never stopped taking notes when together with John. His questions were fateful and insightful.

I am still learning about what love and tenderness and care for one another looks like from Connie and John. John is still teaching me quiet, steadfast ways of friendship.

This thought is guiding me now; we need to up our game in John’s name.

Beth Mount, Social Change Artist

John developed and shaped many of the person-centered planning methods used internationally. These methods continue to influence thousands of folks; families, facilitators, and human service workers, who keep asking “What more is possible?” against all odds. John prepared us to have the courage to challenge and overcome practices, structures, and values that lead to segregation, devaluation, and underestimation in contrast to people living with true purpose and belonging in real communities.

Brittany Curry, Graphic Facilitator/Statewide Citizen Advocacy Advisory Committee

Beyond all I’ve learned from John intellectually, the most important lessons have come from witnessing how he moved through the world. He listened deeply—through all the noise—and got people thinking about the right QUESTIONS to ask, rather than the ANSWERS to cling to. He modeled curiosity when most in the world seek certainty. He taught how to thoughtfully and respectfully challenge limiting beliefs. Time spent with John always left me seeing things a little more clearly.

Jessica Mathis, Community Builder, Voting Access Champion

The first time I met John O’Brien was at the Georgia Winter Institute. John and Connie O’Brien laid the foundation and the groundwork for helping me and so many in the disability community become more empowered. They taught us about mutual respect and what it meant to include people with disabilities in community decision making. I still carry a great deal of the things that he taught. We will miss you.

Learn more about the life, work and impact of John O’Brien on the Inclusion Press website.