Mayor's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities


The advisory council was first formed in 1991 to provide guidance to City departments on all matters related to access for persons with disabilities to City programs, services, and activities. 

In 2018 the Mayor saw concern and need to restructure the advisory council as one with a role to advise and recommend for ADA accessibility as we move forward with vast infrastructure projects in the ongoing improvement within the city.  New members have been appointed in support of our commitment and obligations regarding the American with Disabilities Act (ADA),  to help promote our goal to be one of the most accessible cities in the nation as we undergo our growth and advance our projects in preparing the city for the 21st Century. Our goal as a city  is to improve accessibility and inclusiveness to ensure persons with disabilities are an integral part in all that we are as "The 21st Century - City of Shreveport".
  
Mission Statement

      The Mission of the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities is to improve accessibility of city facilities, services, activities, programs, and employment. Additionally, the City strives to remove accessibility barriers and promote equal rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities is to:

  • Assist the City with the accessibility of city facilities, programs, employment opportunities, and services for residents with disabilities.
  • Assist the City in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
  • Assist the City in providing information and educational programs for City government, businesses, and industries regarding reasonable accommodations for employment and other issues concerning persons with disabilities.
  • Assist the City with ensuring the implementation of the City’s Plan for accessibility and universal design.

FUNCTION

The function of the council members is to advise on all matters related to program and physical access for persons with disabilities to City programs, services, and activities with an accessible design that benefits everyone;  through  a process of proposals and recommendations. 

ONGOING OBJECTIVES

  • Promote and encourage public awareness of the concerns of persons with disabilities
  • Advocate for appropriate access to housing, buildings and transportation
  • Educate the community about the skills of persons with disabilities to foster greater employment opportunities
  • Encourage the inclusion of persons with disabilities in recreational, social and cultural activities in the community
  • Expand the exchange of information and experiences on all levels (local, state and national) to benefit all persons with disabilities
  • Study legislation, employment trends and transportation issues as they relate to persons with disabilities
  • Identifying opportunities to educate the public about disability and disability access issues within the community.

 Mayor's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities
Advisory Council Members
Mitch Iddins 
Director
New Horizons Independent Living 
(Chairperson) 
318-671-8131
 Charlene Boles 
Caddo Parish Leader
 Special Olympics Louisiana
 Lean Bond 
Director Resource Development  
The Arc Caddo-Bossier
 Donna Cavanaugh
Executive Director
Think First of
The Ark-La-Tex
Cedric Murphy
Director
Brotherhood Task Force 
NW Louisiana		  Faith Payne
Citizen		 Theresa Jacobs
CTRS/ SPAR Superintendent
Therapeutic Recreation		  Russell Delancy
SPAR Division Manager
Planning and Development
To Contact Members  Please Direct Emails Communication for the Mayor's Advisory Council  to "Chairperson   Mitch Iddins"

About The Members: 
The members on the Mayor's Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities, Each, Individually and Collectively work within the community through the independent organizations they are affiliated within to educate and foster greater possibilities for inclusion of people with disabilities,  Through their individual private organizational roles and positions within local organizations, they strive to promote the concerns, interest; additionally they promote events and actively encourage participation for persons with disabilities in programs and services to build an inclusiveness for all persons with disabilities into the whole of society. 

  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government programs and services. The City of Shreveport is firmly committed to the ideal and spirit of the ADA. It created a Mayor’s Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities in 1991 and has recently designated an ADA Coordinator. The council is comprised of disabled citizens and representatives of various organizations within the community who routinely assist persons with disabilities.