House Joint Resolution 181, sponsored by Clemmons, honors Carol Westlake on her retirement after thirty-five years of dedicated service as the executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC), an organization she founded in 1987. Under her leadership, the TDC evolved from a small group of advocates into a prominent nonprofit alliance that champions the rights and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in Tennessee. Ms. Westlake has been instrumental in shaping public policy related to voting, education, employment, healthcare, and housing for people with disabilities, and her advocacy has garnered recognition from multiple U.S. presidents and state leaders.

The resolution highlights Ms. Westlake's significant contributions to disability advocacy, including her receipt of prestigious awards such as the AAPD Justice for All Disability Rights Award and the Linda O'Neal Lifetime Achievement Award. It acknowledges her exceptional leadership qualities, her ability to build coalitions, and her commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities. The General Assembly expresses its gratitude for her remarkable career and wishes her continued success and happiness in her future endeavors.