Committee to Establish a Seattle disAbility Commission

Seattle City Council Approves Bill to Create disAbility Commission!

Dear Supporters,
 
Thanks to your faith and hard work, the Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 116763, Creating the Seattle Commission for People With Disabilities on January 11, 2010.
I personally encourage all of you to get involved with the Implementation Committee of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. The CESDC will meet again to discuss next steps, including its own disposition in light of our victory for all people with the Council. Please stay tuned for further announcements providing dates, times and places of meetings.
 
Thank you for your support.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Julian Wheeler, Volunteer Convener,
Committee to Establish a Seattle Disability Commission (CESDC).
 
 

 

 

 

We did it!

[Group of disAbility Advocates celebrating]

Victory came from the testimony, e-mails, letters, and calls of hundreds of people. Above are six who celebrated in the deli at City Hall minutes after the historic City Council vote on Nov. 12.

From left to right are John Denooyer, Rachel Sachs, Tim Shockley, Chris Leman, Julian Wheeler, and Charity Ranger.
 

 

disAbility Coalition wins big victory with City Council

Seattle Post Globe - November 12, 2009

Seattle City Council takes the vote!

about 109 minutes into budget meeting

The Committee to Establish a Seattle disAbility Commission (CESDC) was founded in November, 2008 by a coalition of people who believed that the Commission for People with disAbilities would be the best way to improve how City government addresses the concerns of people with disabilities. 

As a result of nearly a year of organizing by CESDC and its many coalition partners, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted on Nov. 12, 2009 that Seattle would soon have a disAbility Commission.  Now CESDC is working to ensure that the new Commission’s charter and design make it as effective as it can be, and we seek your suggestions toward that end.

Now that the establishment of a Seattle disAbility Commission seems assured, we want to share the lessons of our successful campaign with people who want their city or county to have a disAbility Commission.   Therefore we have left on our web site some of the key documents from our struggle, including endorsement forms, analysis, and correspondence.   Also, we have added a narrative about our effort.

If you are trying to establish a disAbility Commission in your city or county, please write us about how it is going.  And if your city or county already has a disAbility Commission, we want to hear any lessons you would draw about what works in the design and administration of such a Commission.

About any of the above, please write to us:  Julian Wheeler at and John Denooyer at .      

 

 

Celebrate the
Creation of the Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities

Saturday, - December 19th, 2009

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Seattle Gold Coffee

5049 Brooklynn Avenue NE

Seattle, WA

Parking: Free on-street parking.

RSVP to

Featuring: Thank you speeches from Volunteer Convener Julian Wheeler and other principals of the Committee to Establish a Seattle Disability Commission (CESDC). Many prominent civic leaders may also be on hand to acknowledge the contributions of the Disability Stakeholder Community. This is also our chance to acknowledge the support of Seattle Gold Coffee's proprietor for allowing so many CESDC meetings take place there over the past year. Also, to boost the holiday atmosphere, a local volunteer Wassailing troop will start their performance at 7 pm just outside Seattle Gold Coffee before journeying up north on 12th Ave NE. Main program will begin after their departure, at approximately 7:15 pm.

Disclaimers: Coffee house food and beverage are available at regular price to attendees. No event discounts available. However, purchase is not required to attend event. Labor donated. Location donated.  The CESDC is an ad hoc committee driven solely by the energy of its volunteers. It is not a formal organization. Event volunteers, including anyone available to do sign language interpretation among other accommodation services for free, are welcome to contact Julian Wheeler in advance at before attending.

 

 

YOUR IDEAS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED ON HOW TO DESIGN THE NEW SEATTLE DISABILITY COMMISSION TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE

Although the City Council has decided that there will be a Disability Commission and has set aside the funds, its actual establishment will require an ordinance, and there is much to do in shaping the new Commission’s charter, by-laws, mission, membership, and independence.  Please send us your suggestions and reactions soon, to Julian Wheeler at and John Denooyer at .   Some thoughts that have arisen so far: 

(1) provide a wide range of interpretation and translation;
(2) have full and timely information on a web site that is fully accessible; 
(3) make sure that the public has a way to reach every member of the commission, at least by e-mail; 
(4) have total membership large enough to include a wide range of people with disabilities;
(5) help all people with disabilities in Seattle, not just those who reside here;
(6) ensure that those appointed agree beforehand not just to attend its meetings, but also serve on active committees and undertake other assignments;
(7) be proactive in making recommendations to agencies and elected officials, not just wait for them to come to the Commission;
(8) reach out to improve agencies' and officials' understanding and experience with the concerns of people with disabilities;
(9) hold large, public citywide workshops and conferences at convenient times (e.g. weekends);
(10) have the Disabilities Commission put together early a white paper on the conditions and issues facing people who are disabled in Seattle.

Comments are also welcome on the draft legislation that would charter the Seattle Disability Commission.  This legislation closely follows the legislation that chartered Seattle’s Human Rights Commission, its Women’s Commission, and its Sexual Minorities Commission.  Please send us your comments on this draft language:

Read the ordinance by clicking here.

Please send your comments on any of the above to Julian Wheeler at and John Denooyer at .

 

Background on the proposal for a Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities


Click here to view ordinance

Click here for Organizational Endorsement Form

Click here for Petition Form

On Friday, July 24, 2009 - our committee sent a letter via email to Mayor of Seattle Greg Nickels, via his deputy Tim Ceis:

Letter to Mayor Greg Nickels

On Thursday, August 6, 2009, we received this response from Julie Nelson, Director of the Seattle Office of Civil Rights:

Response from Julie Nelson

On Friday, September 18th, 2009, we had a candidates' forum at Center Park, 2100 Martin Luther King Way.

The candidates for City Council Positions 4 and 6 were interviewed, as were the candidates for Mayor and City Attorney.

The crew from Seattle Channel were present to tape the forum. The following are links to thos videos:

Mayor and City Attorney debates
City Council debates 
 

After disAbled-parking outrage, Seattle Center changes plan
Article appeared in the September 11, 2009 online edition of the Seattle Times

John Denooyer and Julian Wheeler testified before the October 7, 2009 Seattle City Council Budget Hearing at Whitman Middle School

Click here to watch video

After outcry, city council considers disAbility commission
Article appeared in the October 10, 2009 online edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

For more information, please contact Julian Wheeler at

 

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