Dear Councils:

I am writing to sadly let you know that Cheryl Sensenbrenner, wife of Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and former AAPD Board Chair, passed away yesterday. Cheryl was a force of nature and incredible disability advocate. Sher worked across her native state of Wisconsin and across the country talking about her life as a woman with a disability and about the need for the ADA, of which her husband was a huge champion.

I was very lucky to have had many opportunities over the years to meet Cheryl and to do Hill visits with her when working to pass the ADA Amendments Act back in 2007/2008. She had a wicked sense of humor and was very quick witted. But mostly she was very passionate and worked tireless to bring people together regardless of their political affiliation to do what was right and brought justice forward.

Cheryl will be mourned and missed. Below are some links provided by the AAPD.

Best,

Donna 

Cheryl Sensenbrenner

Cheryl's testimony during the 20th anniversary of the ADA: https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4886998/user-clip-cheryl-sensenbrenner-ada-anniversary-testimony.  

Cheryl's testimony to the House of Representatives on the ADA Restoration Act in 2007, the original name for the ADA Amendments Act: https://republicans-judiciary.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Sensenbrenner100722.pdf. 

Donna A. Meltzer, CEO

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

1825 K Street, NW Suite 600

Washington, DC 20006

202-506-5813 office

301-704-2180 cell

xxxxxx@nacdd.org