Councilmember Harrell seeks applications for the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities

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City of Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/11/2013

Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell         

Councilmember Harrell seeks applications for
the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities

SeattleCouncilmember Bruce Harrell announced today the City is seeking candidates for three vacant positions on the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities.

The Commission is a 16-member body that advises the Mayor, City Council and City departments on issues that affect people with disabilities. The Commission works to increase understanding within the disability community as well as between the disability community and the nondisabled community. The Commission monitors and provides expertise on issues that affect people with disabilities in Transportation, Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations.

Councilmember Harrell strongly encourages veterans with disabilities to apply. The most recent data shows that veterans make up 9.4% of the population for people with disabilities in the United States. As of May 2012, 45% of the 1.6 million veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were seeking compensation for service-related injuries with these numbers currently on the rise. This is more than double the estimate of 21% who filed claims after the Gulf War in the early 1990s.

"The representation of our veterans with disabilities on the Commission is absolutely essential to greater communication between the City and the communities we serve. Their representation will work to facilitate a greater understanding of the issues that affect veterans with disabilities and create a more inclusive Seattle while creating policy decisions," said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Public Safety, Civil Rights, and Technology committee.

Interested candidates should deliver a resume and cover letter by April 30th to Councilmember Bruce Harrell by email (bruce.harrell@seattle.gov), by fax (206-684-8587; provide cover memo with Attn: Bruce Harrell) or by mail to:

Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Seattle City Council
P.O. Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025

Appointment to the Commission is subject to confirmation by the City Council. Commissioners serve two-year terms, although may be appointed to fill the remainder of an existing term.

[View in Council Newsroom]