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To Celebrate Sue Hetrick’s retirement after decades of disability empowerment and advocacy
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WHEREAS, Sue Hetrick is the Executive Director of the Center for Disability Empowerment in Columbus, Ohio and will be retiring on September 30th, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Sue founded the Center for Disability Empowerment in 2012 on the principles of the Independent Living Movement and has held the title of Executive Director for 13 years; and
WHEREAS, She has 35 years of experience advocating for individuals with disabilities in Central Ohio and beyond; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her time as Executive Director of the Center for Disability Empowerment, she has also served as the Advocacy and Public Policy Director for the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, a parent advocate for the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and a regional leadership coordinator for the Arc of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Sue also has contributed her vast knowledge on disability empowerment and advocacy to the Ohio Olmstead Taskforce, the Secretary of State’s ADA Advisory Committee, the Ohio Disability Employment Alliance, and the Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability Issues; and
WHEREAS, For her advocacy she has received the American Association of People with Disabilities Justice for All Award and the National Council on Independent Living Region V Advocacy Award; and
WHEREAS, She was inspired to turn to advocacy when her youngest son was born with a disability; and
WHEREAS, Sue Hetrick has worked for over three decades to ensure that her son and all other people with disabilities have a right to a lead dignified, self-determined life and that all people with disabilities have a space in their community; and
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize and celebrate Sue Hetrick’s retirement after 35 years of advocacy.