Just a few short months after we celebrated the news of her lifetime achievement award from the National Council on Independent Living, we sadly mourned the passing of Deidre Davis-Butler.
SOURCES for Community Independent Living was privileged to have been one of the many organizations Deidre passionately served in her lifetime of advocacy.
Deidre was involved in the conceptualization, drafting, implementation, and enforcement of civil & disability rights legislation for more than 30 years, including the Fair Housing Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act (as amended), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended). An attorney by training, she began her career working with and for Centers for Independent Living before her work in the federal government. In 2005, Deidre moved to Northwest Arkansas to continue her work in the private sector with Walmart. Following her retirement in 2012, she continued her efforts to promote independent living and the rights of people with disabilities.
The staff and board members of SOURCES are grateful for the time and effort Deidre put into the organization. Anytime she entered the building, she brought smiles to the faces of everyone she met. We were delighted to share in her joy in building her life with Juan. And we will honor her legacy by continuing to advocate for and support people with disabilities.