Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities

Addressing the Needs of People with Disabilities and their Families

News

Mayor's Committee Offers Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

The Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities annually awards two $1,000 scholarships to assist persons with documented disabilities in their pursuit of academic and vocational endeavors. Applications for 2012 are due May 31.

The first scholarship is for a person with a disability who is pursuing an educational goal. This scholarship is designed to assist with tuition, books, fees, and/or special equipment for undergraduate course work.

The second scholarship is to assist an individual with a disability to pursue a vocational education. This money may be used for items such as tools, work shoes or special equipment or tuition and fees to enhance and sustain employment opportunities.

Applicants must be residents of the City of Raleigh and must be enrolled in or have been accepted by an accredited undergraduate, postsecondary school, college, trade school or other institution of higher learning.

Public Participation

The Committee is always seeking new members who want to be involved in the community. The Committee's meetings are open to everyone. For information about the Committee, call Cathey Ector in the Community Services Department at 919-996-6100. Questions and comments are welcome.

Purpose

The Committee helps people with disabilities to participate in the economic and social life of the community. To this end, the Committee promotes employment of people with disabilities and communicates their needs to local leaders and the public. The Committee also sponsors activities benefiting people with disabilities and their families.

Committee Goals

• Advise the mayor and city council on matters of concern to citizens with disabilities.
• Address environmental and attitudinal barriers preventing equal access by citizens with disabilities to education, recreation, employment, transportation and housing.
• Promote public awareness of the talents and abilities of persons with disabilities.
• Inform citizens with disabilities of programs, services and opportunities available to them within the public and private sectors.

Awards Banquet

At the annual Awards Banquet, the committee recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals or groups who have made a significant impact on the community of persons with disabilities. Awards include:

• Employer of the Year (Small, Medium and Large categories)
• Citizen Involvement Award
• Lockhart Follin-Mace Advocacy Award
• James E. Meekins Award for an individual with a disability
• Excellence in Transportation
• Excellence in Housing
• Excellence in Recreation
• Media Award (Television, Print, Radio categories)
• Supervisor of the Year

Committees

Awareness Committee

Awareness and education play a large role in the employment of persons with disabilities. For this reason, the committee presents seminars for personnel officers and other representatives of major employers in the Raleigh area. Presenters at the seminars speak with conviction, and from personal experience, about employing people with disabilities. Committee members also provide information to employers about adaptive equipment to enhance the working skills of people with disabilities.

Housing Committee

The Housing Committee acts as a liaison between the City and its citizens on issues related to the availability and accessibility of housing. The committee works closely with individuals and families seeking affordable, accessible housing.

Transportation Committee

The Transportation Committee acts a liaison between the City and its citizens on issues regarding the accessibility of transportation. The committee works with the City to ensure that the transportation needs of people with disabilities are being addressed.

Front row, left to right: Margo Alfieri, Les Seitz, James Benton, Ginger Rush and Kathy Brack. Back row, left to right: Philip Woodard, Abby Emanuelson, Kristy Dixon, Lori Millette, Darrell Price and Tina Clements

Members