The disability rights activist, Kathy Sinnott, shot to prominence when she took the State to Court two years ago for failing to provide an education for her autistic son.
The mother of nine won the landmark case in the High Court after she recounted her 20-year struggle to secure appropriate education and services for Jamie Sinnott.
The judgment had huge implications as it stated that the right to education was not age-related. Ms Sinnott and her son also won damages of around £250,000.
However, the judgment was overturned by the Supreme Court.
Ms Sinnott (51) was one of the founders of the Association for the Severely and Profoundly Mentally Handicapped. She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Cork-based Hope Project in 1996. The project assists parents of children with disabilities by sharing information about services.
Ms Sinnott was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Ireland in 1971. She lives in Ballinhassig, Co Cork.