Chandler Council honors disability award winners

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Keeping with the theme that solving problems first requires acknowledgment, the Chandler City Council renewed one of its ongoing aims.

Mayor Kevin Hartke read a proclamation declaring February as Disability Awareness Month at the council’s Feb. 20 meeting. He also had members of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities present annual disability awareness awards.

Tom Fay, Julia Lazzara and Bill Hespel represented the committee. Fay and Hespel read highly positive descriptions of the award winners’ contributions, written by members of the community who nominated them.

This year’s Chandler Disability Awareness Award include Students of the Year are Jordan and Sarvesh, who enthusiastically took a photo with the committee members, Hartke and council member O.D. Harris.

The Educator of the Year, who had a loud contingent cheering her on at the Feb. 20 meeting, is Erica Marsh.
The Volunteer of the Year is Ally Anhalt. The Employer of the Year is Mod Pizza manager Sarah Clark.

The Disability Ally of the Year is Chandler Fire Department Division Chief Blas Minor.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.