Title
Celebrating Cecelia Thompson, Delores Brown-Waters, Yvonne Hughes, Icylee Lavern Basketbill, and Black women fighting for Disability Justice and accessibility for all across Philadelphia, on the occasion of Women's History Month.
Body
WHEREAS, As a recent member serving on the Philadelphia School Board, Cecelia Thompson has been a steadfast and courageous advocate for young people with disabilities, consistently leading efforts to secure equitable funding, meaningful support, and systemic reforms within public schools; and through her leadership, critical gaps in services and resources have been identified and addressed, resulting in improved educational access, stronger outcomes, and greater opportunities for students with disabilities across Philadelphia; and she has tirelessly uplifted and amplified the voices of the disability community, championing accessibility, inclusion, and dignity in schools and throughout the city; and, as a loving and dedicated mother to her adult son living with autism who is a graduate from the School District of Philadelphia and serves as her inspiration to continue advocating for students with disabilities in Philadelphia: In addition to her service on the School Board, she continues her advocacy as a dedicated Commissioner on the Mayor's Commission for People with Disabilities and serves on the Governor appointed Special Education Advisory Panel for the Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Delores Brown-Waters has been a steadfast and courageous advocate for accessibility and disability justice in the City of Philadelphia, dedicating years of service to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are treated with dignity, respect, and equity; and as a devoted mother and tireless champion for her daughter, Ms. Brown-Waters has fought persistently to secure the educational, social, and community-based support systems necessary for her child to thrive, transforming personal advocacy into public action that benefits countless families...
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