Westfield proclaims March Disability Awareness Month; mayor's council pushes to codify advisory panel

Mayor Scott Willis read a proclamation at the Feb. 24 Westfield City Council meeting declaring March 2025 Disability Awareness Month and recognized local volunteers and the newly active mayor’s council on disabilities.

The nut graf: Council Chair Nicole Sutherland described the mayor’s council’s recent activities — workforce development, sensory-friendly programming and community events — and asked the council to consider an ordinance to convert the current mayor-appointed mayor’s council into a codified Advisory Council on Disabilities with formal appointment rules and a set membership structure.

Sutherland, introduced at the meeting as chair of the Westfield Mayor’s Council on Disabilities, summarized the council’s mission: “to represent the needs and interests of people with disabilities in the city of Westfield, and provide a platform for disability community to express challenges” and to provide informed input on future city projects and services. She listed recent activities, including a sensory skate night at the Westfield Ice Ribbon, a workforce-development program launched Jan. 18 with four participating businesses, and a community art exhibition launched Jan. 24.

Bridget Lucan, described in the meeting as an emotional support person for Sutherland, outlined how an ordinance would change the mayor’s council’s status. “First of all, it would simply change the name from Mayor's Council on Disability to Advisory Council on Disability, but it would really, formalize the Disability Council and give it a voice, to make a more substantial impact,” Lucan said. She described a proposed appointment structure: a chair appointed by the mayor, three community appointees by the mayor, two community appointees by the city council, two appointees by Westfield Washington Schools, inclusion of the Westfield ADA coordinator, and nonvoting departmental advisers. Appointees would be required to live with a disability, provide care for someone with a disability, or be employed by a company that provides disability services, Lucan said.

Sutherland and others stressed workforce development as a priority. She said business accommodations are often low-cost and that the council is partnering with Invest Hamilton County and vocational rehabilitation programs to connect employers and job candidates. “The goal is to help create those bridges,” Sutherland said, describing paid work placements in health-care jobs by adults who began in the council’s youth services.

Council discussion was supportive. Councillor Kurt Wanninger thanked the councilors and said he “really appreciate[s] what this disability awareness council does in our community.” The administration told councilors they would give the proposal time to “percolate” and that council members would be contacted by Nicole’s team with more information before any ordinance is returned for a vote.

Ending: No formal ordinance or vote to codify the council occurred at the Feb. 24 meeting; councilors were notified the group will follow up with formal proposal materials in coming weeks for council consideration.