Bernard Johnson

Board Chair & Executive Director

Bernard Johnson is a native of Chicago Illinois, a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and after 35 years of work he recently has retired from the aerospace industry. His experience with fighting for the rights of his 34-year-old daughter with intellectual and physical disabilities resulted her in walking across the graduation stage along with her peers to receive her degree.​

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Realizing that his daughters’ needs were still not fully address he started the non-profit organization Progressive Adult Living with the mission of providing independent living homes for his daughter and other people with intellectual and physical disabilities to live in the most inclusive and least restrictive environment in the community. With increased knowledge of the necessary resources, support systems that must in place to achieve his mission and with input from his mentor’s a decision was made to merge Progressive Adult Living under the umbrella of The Arc national organization who mission is “Promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. “  The non-profit Arc of the Low Country in Charleston SC was created where he currently serves as the organizations Chairperson and Executive Director.​

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Combining his passion for advocating for the rights and services of citizens with intellectual and physical disabilities, his experience in private industry and his entrepreneurial skills equip him for fulfilling his mission of equality and full inclusion for all citizens with intellectual and physical disabilities into society.