Res. No. 721
Resolution honoring the life, legacy, and enduring contributions of Becky Ogle to the disability rights movement and the advancement of accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the City of New York
By Council Member Hanif
Whereas, Becky Ogle, born in 1956 in Tennessee, was an extraordinary and tireless advocate for people with disabilities throughout her life; and
Whereas, Ogle was born with the condition spina bifida at birth, leading to a limb amputation at an early age; and
Whereas, Ogle faced discrimination and rejection throughout her early life because of a lack of disability rights and cultural understanding in the United States; and
Whereas, While attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Ogle was forced to enroll in classes based on physical accessibility rather than her academic interests because many classrooms were inaccessible; and
Whereas, In the 1980s, Ogle moved to Washington D.C., and led the government affairs team for the Spina Bifida Association, where she organized citizens and advocates to support the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990; and
Whereas, Ogle was pivotal in the passage of the ADA and ensuring the law was fully implemented throughout the USA by legally challenging inaccessible businesses that lacked wheelchair ramps and mobilizing thousands to protest those in power seeking to weaken the ADA; and
Whereas, Following the passage of the ADA, New York City took measures in 1992 to make subway stations and historic buildings accessible for people with disabilities; and
Whereas, New York City now requires every city agency to have five-year accessibility plans, ensure all agency websites are digitally accessible, and provide public service announcements in American Sign Language on LinkNYC kiosks for the nearly one million New Yorkers that live with a disability; and
Whereas, Over the past 30 years, Ogle was a vital leader of numerous presidential and local election campaigns, working with candidates to ensure people with disabilities were recognized as a momentous political constituency; and,
Whereas, Ogle served as a Disability Outreach Director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in the 1992 and 1996 election cycle, as well as for President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 1996; and
Whereas, In 1998, Ogle served as the Executive Director for the President's Taskforce on the Employment of People with Disabilities where she developed programs to support employment opportunities for people with disabilities; and
Whereas, The President's Taskforce on the Employment of People with Disabilities under Ogle's tenure was pivotal in the creation of the Office of Disability Employment Policy under the Department of Labor in 2001; and
Whereas, Ogle served as a Senior Disability Advisor to the DNC and John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004; and
Whereas, Ogle dedicated her life to the full integration of people with disabilities in all facets of society, including employment, civic engagement, and public leadership; and
Whereas, Becky Ogle passed away on October 18, 2026; and
Whereas, Becky Ogle's advocacy, accomplishments, and impact on disability rights have inspired countless advocates and will continue to shape future generations of leaders and changemakers; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York honors the legacy of Becky Ogle and her contributions to the disability rights movement and the passage of the ADA.
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LS #27492
10/28/2026 10:52 AM