Holcomb Responds to Disability Candidate Questionnaire for Indiana Governor Race

Key actions and positions posted on the intersection of disability and education, jobs, immigration, climate crisis, criminal justice and more

Indianapolis, IN, Sept. 11– In response to RespectAbility’s 2020 Disability Voter Questionnaire for Senate and Governor Races, Indiana’s Republican Governor Eric Holcomb and Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch have responded with the following letter detailing some of their past efforts to support Hoosiers with disabilities and their shared vision for the future of Indiana. The full text of their letter follows:

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Supporting Hoosiers with disabilities is an issue that Governor Holcomb and Lt. Governor Crouch are passionate about. Lt. Governor Crouch has been a champion of Hoosiers with disabilities throughout her entire career in public service and her passion for this issue continues to have a tremendous impact on the approximately 100,000 Hoosiers with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The very first bill governor Holcomb signed into law was one that provided more transportation options for students with disabilities. He also signed landmark legislation that supports the independence of Hoosiers with disabilities and created the taskforce for assessment of services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Lt. Governor Crouch chaired this taskforce.

Crouch’s task force report outlined recommendations for the administration and General Assembly to further improve services for Hoosiers with disabilities. The recommendations provide information on existing services, identifies gaps in services and proposes recommendations that will not only improve services and support, but will also promote greater community opportunities for Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The entire report may be found on the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s website.

Governor Holcomb also appointed a special education teacher to the Indiana State Board of Education, ensuring that an expert, with a passion for special-needs children, will contribute to the development of statewide education policy for years to come.

In a personal favorite moment of his first term, Governor Holcomb invited DeKalb County’s Special Olympic gold medal-winning Team Indiana to the governor’s residence to officially open, and play the first basketball game, at the new, full-length basketball court the governor installed at the residence.

In his 2020 State of the State Address, Governor Holcomb said “we won’t overlook anyone who is aspiring to be successful. That includes Hoosiers with disabilities, who seek to live and work in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.” For the Holcomb-Crouch team, this isn’t just a line from a speech, this is an issue they’ve delivered on the last four years and will, hopefully, continue to work on for the next four. Governor Holcomb and Lt. Governor Crouch know that a more inclusive Indiana improves the quality of life for all Hoosiers.

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Gov. Holcomb is facing off against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Woody Meyers in this year’s gubernatorial election in Indiana. Dr. Meyers recently answered the RespectAbility Disability Questionnaire and you can find his responses on our website here.

RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of their communities. RespectAbility does not rate or endorse candidates. View more coverage of 2020 candidates.