Obituary: First disabled person in British House of Lords dies

From BBC News:

Baroness Nicky Chapman (pictured), the first person with a congenital disability to be appointed to the House of Lords, has died aged 48.

Born in Leeds with brittle bone disease she was elected to the House of Lords under the People's Peer scheme in 2004.

Well known for her campaigning, wit and determination, Baroness Chapman was also chair of the Leeds United Disabled Supporters Organisation (Ludo).

She received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005.

Baroness Chapman died in Leeds General Infirmary on Sept. 3, her friend Diane Forth said.

Ms Forth, secretary of Ludo, said Leeds United were planning to open up a condolence book in the disabled suite at the ground on Sept. 5.

The club's players will also be wearing black armbands for their home match against Stockport County.

Ms Forth called Baroness Chapman "irreplaceable".

Ms Forth said: "She was a very special lady - very determined. Nothing was too much trouble for Nicky. She'd do anything for anybody.

"I lost my husband in November and she supported me through it. She was my best friend."

Baroness Chapman defied doctors who predicted she would be blind and deaf and have little or no mental function.

She received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005.

A spokeswoman from The Brittle Bone Society said Baroness Chapman had "done much to further the cause of people with health conditions and physical disabilities through leading by example".