CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities; changing the name to the Seattle Disability Commission; and requesting that the Code Reviser revise the Seattle Municipal Code accordingly.
body
WHEREAS, disability communities are culturally diverse and have a long tradition of political activism, including a rich discourse around self-identification; and
WHEREAS, some, but not all, members of disability communities use person-first language ("people with disabilities") to emphasize personhood over disability status; and
WHEREAS, disability communities, including some members of the Deaf and Autistic communities, as well as those who proudly embrace disability as a political and/or cultural identity, have long expressed that person-first language does not represent them, preferring identity-first language ("disabled person"); and
WHEREAS, "disability" is an umbrella term that is inclusive of the myriad disability communities who prefer person-first and identity-first language; and
WHEREAS, the diverse body of the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities voted unanimously on June 18, 2020 to change its name to "The Seattle Disability Commission"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seattle seeks to be an open and inclusive city for all its residents;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities is renamed "The Seattle Disability Commission."
Section 2. The City Council requests that the Code Reviser, pursuant to the authority established by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.03.030, revise the Seattle Municipal Code to replace references to "The Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities" with "The Seattle Disability Commission."
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and...
Click here for full text