Johnny Tuitel at GRCC in 1999

Speaker and disability advocate Johnnie Tuitel died on July 15, 2025. He spoke at GRCC in 1999.

From his obituary:
Johnnie grew up in East Grand Rapids, MI, and his life was anything but ordinary. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after birth and from the day he came into this world, he was defying all odds. As he grew up with his family supporting him, it became a mission that he was treated no differently because of his disability. Johnnie wheeled through societal normalcy at the time and was enrolled at East Grand Rapids public schools. After completing high school he attended Hope College in Holland, MI.

As Johnnie's life continued, he gained a passion for doing things that he was told he couldn't do because of his disability. He was an author of the "Gun Lake Adventure Series." He played a key role in the founding years of Paws with a Cause, an organization that trains and matches service dogs with those in need. He received the "Unsung Hero Award" from President Gerald Ford, and the "Distinguished Alumni Award" from Hope College. He was a motivational speaker and a co-founder of the non-profit organization Alternatives in Motion, which donates wheelchairs and other medical equipment to those in need.

His obituary can be viewed here:
https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries...