Turner on new director of office for people with disabilities: 'I look forward to working with him'

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner introduced Angel Ponce as the new director of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) on Tuesday, according to a city-issued press release and Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.

Turner’s office said that Ponce’s appointment is immediately in effect, per the release. 

“As a staunch advocate for the disability community, Angel understands the importance of equal participation and full inclusion of all citizens, including citizens with disabilities,” the mayor said in the release. “I look forward to working with him to ensure that the city continues to be more accessible and inclusive for all Houstonians.”

According to the release, Ponce is a bilingual advocacy and government professional who has garnered more than a decade of experience in municipal government.

A car accident in 2004 inflicted a spinal cord injury upon Ponce and rendered him to using a wheelchair, the release said.

Ponce, who succeeds Gabe Cazares, served as the MOPD’s Senior Community Engagement liaison from 2014 to last year, per the city.

KPRC reported that as liaison, Ponce aided the Houston Commission on Disabilities by acting as an interpreter between legal department attorneys and Spanish-speaking residents.

He additionally gave managerial support to the city’s anti-gang office from 2008 to 2014, according to the city, the station reported.

The release said that Ponce was a co-founder of National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities (CNLD) and is the current chairman of the United Way of Greater Houston, Interagency Information and Referral Network.

He is a graduate of Lone Star College (LSC) and is a communication studies major at the University of Houston (UH), according to the release.