Mayor's Council for Persons with Disabilities

"Disability is not a brave struggle or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live." –Neil Marcus

Purpose

MCFPDThe purpose of the Council is to advise the Mayor on means of improving, and at his direction carry out programs designed to improve, the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the Valdosta area by:

  • Advising the Mayor and local governmental organizations of the existence of, and means of eliminating, barriers to the access of persons with disabilities.

  • Promoting, to the public at large, opportunities for persons with disabilities to live and work in an environment free of barriers imposed by architecture or attitude.

View Bylaws

Executive Committee

Chair

Wendy Thomas, Wendy.Thomas@gvs.ga.gov, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

Chair-Elect

Katrina Royal, katrina.royal@wiregrass.edu, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Secretary

Thomas Simpson, thomas.simpson@ablegeorgia.ga.gov, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

Treasurer

Kimberly Tanner, katanner@valdosta.edu, Valdosta State University

Meetings

The Mayor's Council for Persons with Disabilities meets bi-monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. Meetings are held at the Department of Labor--or at locations to be announced--and are open to individuals who have an interest in making Valdosta "A City Without Limits" for community members with disabilities.

22nd Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet

Planning is underway for the 22nd Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet, co-sponsored by the Valdosta Mayor's Council for Persons with Disabilities and the VSU Access Office. Each year, the event celebrates some of the exceptional efforts being made to tear down barriers for individuals with disabilities in our community.

Last year, U.S. Airforce Captain Christy Wise was the keynote speaker. She is a Rescue Squadron Pilot stationed at Moody Airforce Base and is the "sixth amputee and the first-female amputee to return to the cockpit" according to a recent article in Valdosta Today. Several others were recognized at the event. View news release.

Essay Contest

Congratulations to Lowndes High School student Dagen Anderson, winner of the 2016 MCPD Journalism/Essay Contest.

More Information

For more information, attend the scheduled meetings or contact MCPD Chair Wendy Thomas at 229-333-5251 or at Wendy.Thomas@gvs.ga.gov.