40 Million Americans…

Susan Cohen has written a great article about the obstacles we face and how advocates in New York were able to finally have a voice in their right to private and accessible voting. She also emphasizes how many disabled Americans there are, and how important it is for all of us to do what it takes to be counted.

The article can be found here.

1. POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
   1. Do you support the creation and appointment of a permanent Assistant to the President for Disability Policy at the White House?
      Yes.
   2. How will you make sure qualified people with disabilities will be a part of your political team and, if elected, as part of your administration?My Administration would represent all Americans. Just as individuals with disabilities play a significant role in contributing to their local communities, they would play a significant role in contributing to the Dodd Administration.
2. EMPLOYMENT
   1. What steps would you take to reduce employment barriers and improve employment outcomes for Americans with disabilities?Despite progress made since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities experience unemployment at a rate far above the national average. Some estimates put the unemployment rate of people with severe disabilities at or near 70 percent. As President, I would encourage public/private partnerships as they relate to the recruitment, hiring and retention of people with disabilities, I would ensure that the tax code to encourages both private and nonprofit sectors to provide additional accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities and I would support funding of “disability program navigators” at state One Stop Career Centers created under the Workforce Investment Act. My Administration would also strengthen the EEOC’s enforcement of the ADA as it relates to job protections for people with disabilities, support efforts to increase the development of and access to assistive and universally designed technologies, and significantly expand efforts to ensure that federal jobs are fully accessible to all.
   2. How would you reform the federal income support programs (Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance) so that beneficiaries enjoy a greater standard of living and participate more fully in the labor market?As President, I would ensure that individuals who cannot support themselves due to a disability are provided with sufficient income through SSDI and SSI. In addition, I would work to revamp the current programs so that current recipients are not punished for what work they are capable of. Individuals that leave SSDI and SSI for full-time employment will have access to high-quality universal health care – universal in terms of affordability and access to the treatments, medications and medical devices that people need.

To see the rest, go to AAPD’s election page.