Disability advocate Sue Salthouse, the ACT's 2020 Senior Australian of the Year has passed away in a motorcycle accident.

She was riding her wheelchair-accessible motorcycle when it was involved in an accident with a car.

Salthouse was well-known in the Canberra community, as a long time advocate for people, particularly women, with disabilities.

She was co-chair of the ACT Disability Expert Panel advising on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and influenced the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

"Arriving by surprise in the disability sector means that you're on a very steep learning curve to understand what it is that affects the lives and mentality of people with disabilities," Ms Salthouse told Nikki Henningham in an interview at the National Library of Australia in 2011.

"The practicalities of 'having a place at the table' are difficult to confront for someone who needs two hours in the morning to get up.

"Success in promoting the issues is one thing, another measure is seeing more women with disabilities in the workforce and more woman outside the ages of 40-60 involved in advocacy organisations."

A spokesperson from the National Australia Day Council said that they were "saddened" at the news of Salthouse's death.

"Sue was such a vibrant woman who lived life to the full and seized every opportunity. She was a huge force for change and for good in the disability sector," they said.

"We will always remember Sue's beaming smile and great enthusiasm.

"Our hearts go out to Sue's family and friends."

Chief executive of the Disability Leadership Group Christina Ryan gave a statement, as she worked with Salthouse for 25 years.

"She was a passionate part of our community, she was really a big part of the disability sisterhood," she said.

"We were all working together, it wasn't about any of us individually it was a collective effort.

"She was one of the most outstanding mentors of young talent right up until today."

Photo credits: ABC News