Thank you for holding a special meeting today. As some of those on the committee know, the city's Disabilities Advisory Commission has not had a full dais since June 2020. Since the pandemic, meeting quorum has been a challenge, at times delaying discussions of issues important to the city's disabilities community. It is great to see so many individuals interested in serving on the commission and I am hopeful those selected to serve will provide our advisory body with more geographic depth in representing individuals with disabilities throughout our city. I would like to voice my support for applicant and District 3 resident Alice Mercer, who has brought issues to the Disabilities Advisory Commission, and is familiar with our work. Ms. Mercer not only is the mother of an individual with a developmental disability, but the wife of one of the city's first mobility advocates who now lives with physical disabilities following a health crisis. Alice is also a teacher in the public school system and a longtime advocate for full inclusion. As we resume our in-person meetings two weeks from now, I look forward to the opportunity to work with those who are selected today and approved by the mayor and City Council.
Thank you for holding a special meeting today. As some of those on the committee know, the city's Disabilities Advisory Commission has not had a full dais since June 2020. Since the pandemic, meeting quorum has been a challenge, at times delaying discussions of issues important to the city's disabilities community. It is great to see so many individuals interested in serving on the commission and I am hopeful those selected to serve will provide our advisory body with more geographic depth in representing individuals with disabilities throughout our city. I would like to voice my support for applicant and District 3 resident Alice Mercer, who has brought issues to the Disabilities Advisory Commission, and is familiar with our work. Ms. Mercer not only is the mother of an individual with a developmental disability, but the wife of one of the city's first mobility advocates who now lives with physical disabilities following a health crisis. Alice is also a teacher in the public school system and a longtime advocate for full inclusion. As we resume our in-person meetings two weeks from now, I look forward to the opportunity to work with those who are selected today and approved by the mayor and City Council.