Alabama A&M Alumnus Miriam D. Witherspoon is an attorney and representative for District 7 in the Birmingham City Council. Although, her term will be ending this year, she has proven to be an unsung hero to many whose voices are not heard.
Witherspoon has a degree in political science and history from Alabama A&M University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Miles School of Law. An auto accident in 1988 injured her spinal cord and left her wheelchair-bound. She has been practicing law since 1990, with a specialty in senior citizens and disability issues. She was the executive director of Senior Citizens Services of Alabama. She also served as the Attorney for Senior Citizens in Jefferson County and currently maintains a private practice in probate law.
She was first elected to the City Council in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election over six opponents for the seat vacated by Bert Miller. Her current term ends in 2009. On the Council she serves as President Pro Tempore. She also chairs Public Improvements Committee and is a member of the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee.
On the council, Witherspoon has taken a leadership role in promoting city-wide compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upon her election the Council chambers were immediately retrofitted to make them accessible for her. She sponsored the Birmingham Visti-ability Ordinance mandating disabled access in neighborhoods across the city. She proposed and later withdrew a 120% pay increase for council members in 2008.
Witherspoon was also the first African American to be honored as "Miss Wheelchair Alabama". Birmingham is the first city in Alabama to pass a Visit-ability Ordinance. Passage of this ordinance which was introduced by President Pro Tem Witherspoon, has the potential to transform Birmingham's neighborhoods.
Generous with her intellectual and legal skills, she has received numerous accolades and commendations including the Perseverance Award form the Alabama Association of Women’s Clubs, Inc., Women’s History Award presented by the Girl Scouts of America, Award of Recognition from Miles Law School and Certificates of Appreciation from Bessemer State Technical School of Geriatric Nursing and Alabama A&M University. In March 2006, the Independent Living Center recognized her as an “exemplary role model.”
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Source: http://www.informationbirmingham.com/district7
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